| This is a descriptive outcome study of a twelve session stress management intervention in the Stress Management Laboratory (SML) developed at the Counseling and Student Development Center at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Across the country, the SML is becoming one solution for colleges and universities that struggle to respond to increased numbers of students demanding services and the increased levels of distress that they bring with them. Despite the growing popularity of SML, there has yet to be a systematic description and outcome study of the SML, without which it is difficult to support the effectiveness of the intervention. In addition, this study seeks to extend the understanding of students' utilization of the Lab in order to guide implementation of similar programs at other universities.;Pretreatment and post treatment measures were collected for 29 students who participated in the SML intervention. The TRAC-R, STAI, and the SCL-58 were selected to explore the effects of 12 sessions of biofeedback and autogenic training. Results indicate that students did not exhibit physiological evidence for a relaxation response as measured by the thermograph. Despite this, students reported a decrease in their subjective experience of stress before and after each session. Analysis of the SCL-58 showed significant reductions in overall symptoms experienced by the students, as well as a decrease in symptoms on the obsessive compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, and depression subscales. The TRAC-R results provide evidence for an increase in Effective Work Methods and a trend towards improvements in Quality of Attention and a decrease in Fear of Failure from before to after the intervention. Results also indicate that students felt generally more relaxed at the end of the intervention as indicated by decreased anxiety scores on the Trait measure of the STAI. However, students' scores from pre to post intervention were not significant on State measures of the STAI.;Discussion of these findings, limitations of this study, implications for universities, and directions for further research on this topic are also presented. More studies on the establishment, utilization, and impact of SML interventions may provide support for SML becoming a time and cost effective way to improve the quality of life for students at colleges and universities. |
