AHRQ Innovations Exchange | Worksite Program Provides Strategies for Handling Stress, Reducing Problem Drinking and Psychological Symptoms

Worksite Program Provides Strategies for Handling Stress, Reducing Problem Drinking and Psychological Symptoms

Summary
The Coping with Work and Family Stress™ program, a workplace intervention that can be adapted and customized to different types of worksites and employee populations, teaches those struggling with substance abuse and related psychological issues to avoid negative substance use patterns while coping with work and family stress. The program consists of 16 weekly sessions focused on expanding the range and quality of coping strategies available to the participant. The program has been shown to increase use of active coping strategies and positive social support and to reduce the use of avoidance coping, leading to less problem drinking and fewer psychological symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and somatic complaints.

Evidence Rating
Strong: The evidence consists of two RCTs, the first study was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and the second study was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

Data consisted of self-reported information administered in the first study at pretest, posttest (4 months later), and 6- and 22- month follow-ups, and in the second study at pretest, posttest (4 months later), and 6- and 12-month follow-up.

Developing Organizations

David L. Snow, Ph.D., Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine

Date First Implemented
1989

Patient Population

Vulnerable Populations > Mentally ill; Substance abusers

full-text:
AHRQ Innovations Exchange | Worksite Program Provides Strategies for Handling Stress, Reducing Problem Drinking and Psychological Symptoms