Ravalier PhD Theis.pdf - Anglia Ruskin Research Online

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seriously, then stress in organisations will be reduced. Also, Lavoie-
Tremblay et al. (2005) utilised primary stress intervention approaches
(while employing participative methods) in order to improve management
style, improve working conditions, reduce rates of both absenteeism and
turnover, and reduce overall levels of stress. Similarly, the learning
environment within the workplace had been found to be improved in
primary intervention studies conducted by Fricke (1983) and Mikkelsen
and Gundersen (2003), and Halbesleben et al. (2006) utilised Action
Research methodologies to improve employee participation and burnout
outcomes of stress.
1e.2) Secondary Interventions
Secondary stress management interventions, those which are most
commonly utilised in organisations, involve helping the individual to be
able to cope with their workplace stress (Giga et al., 2003), thus dealing
with the symptoms of stress before they become health issues. They also
serve the dual purpose of identifying the current stress factors and to help
individuals to cope with future stress (Ongori & Agolla, 2008). Examples
of secondary SMIs include (Richardson & Rothstein, 2008) cognitivebehavioural
skills training to help cope with the thoughts and emotions
when managing stressful situations; techniques designed to help
employees reduce aversive physiological reactions to stress such as
meditation and relaxation; and other techniques such as time
management and goal setting.
Several studies and meta-analytical reviews of secondary stress
management intervention effectiveness have taken place over the past
two decades. One compelling review of the literature via the British
Occupational Health Research Foundation (BOHRF, 2005) suggested that
secondary stress management interventions may at best have a modest
or short-term impact on a range of variables associated with individual
stress. A more recent review by Richardson and Rothstein (2008) included
36 experimental studies with a total sample size of 2,847 participants.
The findings suggested that the type of intervention (e.g. primary,