New evidence for the effectiveness of stress management training in groups.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a stress management treatment based upon transactional stress and group treatment theory. Treatment components included teaching the cognitive-behavioral skills of relaxation, cognitive restructuring, and assertiveness within a structured small-group setting. Thirty-two symptomatic volunteers were assigned to either a treatment group or a wait-list condition. Treatment consisted of eight, two-hour weekly group sessions. On all dependent measures of stress, the treatment subjects evidenced significant pre- to posttest reductions. Furthermore, on three of the four measures, the treatment subjects evidenced significant pre- to posttest reductions in stress compared to the wait-list subjects.