Being Passionately Curious

“Once you stop learning, you start dying” Albert Einstein.

We are big fans of lifelong learning and practice what we preach, both through our own research effort and the support we are able to give to other students. Recent research projects of ours have included:

Abstract – Study One - Impact of Stress Management Training

This study investigated the impact of attending a stress-management workshop on self reported work-related stress.  Data was used from over 14,000 UK and European questionnaire respondents, all working in large organizations over the past ten years and compared results from two groups - one of which attended a stress-management workshop and one that did not. Results showed that attendance at the workshop improved scores on five predictors of work-related stress: control, demands, relationships, support and self.  Significant differences were seen for control, relationships, support and self and a small non-significant difference was shown for demands. These results would fall in line with literature in the field of work-related stress, that suggests there are three key factors contributing to work-related stress: demands, environment and the level of control over your work (Cooper, Dewe, & O’Driscoll, 2001).  These factors relate closely to the theories of Self Determination (SDT) (Deci & Ryan, 2000) and the job demands-control theory (JDC) (Karasek, 1979).  This study is useful for key stakeholders of employee health, well-being and performance as it contributes to the understanding of how workplace interventions can help to reduce work-related sources of stress, particularly in terms of increasing efficacy and working relationships.

Abstract - Study Two - Healthy Behaviours and Stress

For nearly four decades researchers have been attentive to work-related stress and associated reductionist interventions. Past empirical research examining stress- buffering or prophylactic effects of ‘healthy behaviours’ on work-related stress has, however, often focussed on short-term inducement of stressful situations upon non-stressed individuals. The purpose of the second study was to assess whether socially accepted healthy behaviours have the potential to protect against work-related subjective stress and associated issues of depression and overall mental health amongst UK employees perceiving themselves to be stressed. 

The study used data from 686 English speaking employees across various UK sites within a FMCG company. All respondents self-selected to complete a validated online work-related stress survey, which included items related to healthy behaviours and their effects on overall mental health, subjective stress and depression. 

The data showed positive associations between exercise, regular breaks and eating a daily nutritious breakfast and subjective stress, depressed and overall mental health scores. No association was found between eating breakfast and subjective stress. Multiple linear regression demonstrated regular breaks had a small prophylactic effect against subjective stress, with exercise having a small prophylactic effect against feeling depressed and overall mental health. 

Findings indicate that undertaking healthy behaviours such as exercising, eating a nutritious breakfast and having regular breaks throughout the day, result in a small protective effect against subjective stress, depression and overall mental health. 

Please contact us to discuss your specific requirements and find out how WorkingWell can help you.