Maximizing Engagement Efforts to Manage Stress
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Date
2018-04
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Ohio State University. Office of Outreach and Engagement
Abstract
The diverse challenges throughout The Ohio State University to reduce stress prompted a comprehensive and integrated effort to leverage the expertise from the Ohio State health plan and the Ohio State Counselor Education department. The interdisciplinary team collaborated to create a pilot program that combined stress management techniques with biofeedback technology. The six-week program included a paired-samples repeated measures design with analysis between groups (live group versus webinar group) and within groups (intervention pre- and post-scores). Three survey measures (Perceived Stress Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Brief Resilience Scale) and HRV coherence scores were collected. Group comparison outcomes will identify and recommend future programming. Several lessons were learned related to collaborative partnerships between the Ohio State health plan and academic departments (Counselor Education).
Description
A significant number of employees and their adult dependents at The Ohio State University report feeling stressed, anxious and/or depressed. Stress-related illness is expensive for employers, health plans and employees (Klatt, Buckworth, & Malarkey, 2009). Work-site wellness programming can provide stress management classes to reduce health care and employer costs (van der Klink, Blonk, Schene, & van Dijk, 2001). Evidence shows that work-site programs that promote coping skills and reduce stress can significantly reduce health care utilization (Rahe et al., 2002). Stress management and emotional regulation are considered to be essential parts of an overall model of preventative health care and wellness (Granello, 2013). The diverse challenges throughout The Ohio State University to reduce stress prompted a unique partnership encompassing a comprehensive and integrated effort to leverage the expertise from the OSU Health Plan and the Ohio State Counselor Education department. The interdisciplinary team of presenters includes: Dr. Paul Granello, Ph.D., LPCC-S, CWC, associate professor of counselor education at Ohio State; Stefanie Morrow, RN, BSN, director of wellness and health coaching at OSU Health Plan; Laura Peterson, MPH, LPC, manager of health coaching at OSU Health Plan; Greg Schwitzgable, MPH, CHES, YP4H health coach at OSU Health Plan; and Damon Drew, M.Ed, graduate associate at Stress Management and Resiliency Training Lab, Ohio State. Through a shared vision of advocating for health and well-being, we collaborated to create a pilot program. The Recharging Your Inner Battery! program combined stress management techniques (breath work, imagery, autogenic, meditation) and heart rate variability biofeedback technology. The purpose of this program is to provide an opportunity for experiential learning through a six-week group utilizing heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback intervention for faculty and staff at The Ohio State University. Two groups were recruited from Ohio State faculty and staff to participate in the pilot program. The program included a paired samples repeated measures design with analysis between groups (live group versus webinar group) and within groups (intervention pre- and post-program scores). Participants completed three survey measures (Perceived Stress Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Brief Resilience Scale) pre- and post-program. Participants attended a six-week live relaxation skills group or a six-week webinar relaxation skills group. In addition, each participant completed a minimum of four individually scheduled HRV biofeedback sessions in the Ohio State Stress Management and Resiliency Training Lab. HRV coherence scores were recorded for each session. Group comparison outcomes will be analyzed and presented to identify and recommend future programming.
AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Paul Granello, Associate Professor, Counselor Education, The Ohio State University, granello.2@osu.edu (Corresponding Author); Stefanie Morrow, Director, Wellness and Health Coaching, The Ohio State University Health Plan; Laura Peterson, Manager, Health Coaching, The Ohio State University Health Plan; Greg Schwitzgable, YP4H Health Coach, The Ohio State University Health Plan; Damon Drew, Graduate Associate, The Ohio State University Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) Lab.
AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Paul Granello, Associate Professor, Counselor Education, The Ohio State University, granello.2@osu.edu (Corresponding Author); Stefanie Morrow, Director, Wellness and Health Coaching, The Ohio State University Health Plan; Laura Peterson, Manager, Health Coaching, The Ohio State University Health Plan; Greg Schwitzgable, YP4H Health Coach, The Ohio State University Health Plan; Damon Drew, Graduate Associate, The Ohio State University Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) Lab.
Keywords
biofeedback, stress management, resiliency, heart rate variability, emotional regulation
Citation
Engaged Scholars, v. 6 (2018).