Which type of program is most effective in combating the effects of workplace stress?

Individuals looking to reduce their level of stress may be doing so for a number of reasons: a healthier heart, pain relief, better sleep, or just to feel better. When presenting the best way to manage a person’s stress level, it is necessary to acknowledge that there isn’t a single approach that will work for each individual. For this reason, one program or activity will not effectively reduce everyone’s stress and improve their health; therefore, there is no single correct answer.

A recent study by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health found that a healthy lifestyle is not determined by solely measuring numbers; however, a better measurement is an “improved health-related quality of life”¹. Furthermore, Benefit Performance Associates (BPA) discovered through the implementation of the Integrated Health Advocacy Program (IHAP), that the individuals improved in their self-efficacy, quality of life, and perception of well-being². An IHAP team uses a multidisciplinary approach to assess and assist in reducing all of an individual’s stressors which prohibits feelings of health and wellness.

In a recent NPR publication, Neighmond commented on the emphasis of wellness programs to help individuals deal with workplace stress³. Due to the interdependent relationship between stress and wellness, an integrated approach to whole-person health, such as IHAP, has proven to be beneficial for individuals dealing with stress and other health issues.

For more information on obtaining these results with IHAP, contact Maria E.J. Kuhn at (630) 761-4427 or mkuhn@ihap.com

REFERENCES:
1 University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences. (2016, July 26). Overlooked benefit of successful healthy lifestyle programs: Improved quality-of-life. ScienceDaily. Retrieved August 1, 2016 from: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160726123755.htm

2 Krause, C.M., Jones, C.S., Joyce, S., Kuhn, M.E.J., Curtin, K., Murphy, L.P., Krause, C.M.J., Boan, B., and Lucas, D.R. (2006). The impact of a multidisciplinary, integrated approach on improving the health and quality of care for individuals dealing with multiple chronic conditions. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 76(1), 109-114.

3 Neighmond, P. (2016). Wellness Programs Take Aim at Workplace Stress. NPR: The Workplace and Your Health. Retrieved August 1, 2016 http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/07/18/486093979/wellness-programs-take-aim-at-workplace-stress