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Workplace
Original article
Internet-based stress management for distressed managers: results from a randomised controlled trial
  1. Robert Persson Asplund1,
  2. Jesper Dagöö1,
  3. Ida Fjellström2,
  4. Linnea Niemi2,
  5. Katja Hansson3,
  6. Forough Zeraati3,
  7. Masha Ziuzina3,
  8. Anna Geraedts4,
  9. Brjánn Ljótsson2,
  10. Per Carlbring5,
  11. Gerhard Andersson1,6
  1. 1 Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
  2. 2 Department of Clinical Neuroscience Division of Psychology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
  3. 3 Department of Psychology, Uppsala Universitet, Uppsala, Sweden
  4. 4 Department of Clinical Psychology, Vrije University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  5. 5 Department of Psychology, Stockholms Universitet, Stockholm, Sweden
  6. 6 Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
  1. Correspondence to Dr Robert Persson Asplund, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden; robert.persson.asplund{at}liu.se

Abstract

Objective The aim of this randomised controlled trial (RCT) was to evaluate the efficacy of a guided internet-based stress management intervention (iSMI) among distressed managers compared with a attention control group (AC) with full access to treatment-as-usual.

Method A total sample of 117 distressed managers, mainly employed in the healthcare, IT, communication and educational sector, were randomised to either iSMI (n=59) or an AC group (n=58). The iSMI consisted of eight modules including cognitive behavioural stress management and positive management techniques. Participants received a minimal and weekly guidance from a psychologist or master-level psychology student focusing on support, feedback and adherence to the intervention. Self-report data were assessed at pre, post and 6 months after the intervention. The primary outcome was perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale-14). The secondary outcomes included mental and work-related health outcomes.

Results Participants in the iSMI intervention reported significantly less symptoms of perceived stress (d=0.74, 95% CI 0.30 to 1.19) and burnout (d=0.95, 95% CI 0.53 to 1.37) compared with controls, at postassessment. Significant medium-to-large effect sizes were also found for depression, insomnia and job satisfaction. Long-term effects (6 months) were seen on the mental health outcomes.

Conclusion This is one of the first studies showing that iSMIs can be an effective, accessible and potentially time-effective approach of reducing stress and other mental-related and work-related health symptoms among distressed managers. Future studies are needed addressing distressed managers and the potential of indirect effects on employee stress and satisfaction at work.

  • stress
  • stress management
  • intervention studies
  • burnout
  • manager

This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2017-104458

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors Contributors RPA, JD, AG, BL, PC and GA developed the design of the study. RPA, JD, IF, LN, KH, FZ and MZ contributed to the intervention content. RPA, BL and GA performed the outcome analyses. RPA drafted the first proof of the manuscript and integrated coauthor comments and edits. All the authors contributed to the further writing of the manuscript and approved the final manuscript.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient consent Obtained.

    • Ethics approval Ethical Committee of Linkoping University, Sweden (ref number 2012/353-31).

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.