A Stress Management and Health Coaching Intervention to Empower Office Employees to Better Control Daily Stressors and Adopt Healthy Routines

Abstract

The present pilot randomized control study examined the effectiveness of an 8-week stress management and health coaching intervention on perceived stress, healthy routines, sleep quality, self-efficacy, self-esteem and happiness. A total of 38 office employees were randomly assigned to the intervention group (IG, n = 20) or the control group (CG, n = 18) and validated tools were used to assess outcomes. Statistically significant differences in the IG after the 8 weeks were observed in perceived stress (i.e., a decrease in PSS-14 score, p = 0.043), in “Daily Routine”, i.e., an increase in control over the consistent timing of meals and sleep (p = 0.001) and in “Social and Mental Balance”, i.e., an increase in inclination to socialize, balance leisure and personal time and adopt positive thinking or cognitive control over stressors (p = 0.003). These improvements were reflected in an increase in total healthy lifestyle and personal control score (HLPCQ, p = 0.048). Short time and stress management and coaching interventions at workplaces can empower employees to increase control over stressors and to take the first step in adopting healthy behaviors by recognizing bad habits. Furthermore, in building sustainable employment, an empowered employee would participate at an organizational level more actively. Our preliminary results strongly support the idea that primary health care professionals should be educated in health coaching and relaxation techniques.