Journal of Occupational
Health and Epidemiology
Rafsanjan university Of medical sciences
Volume 15, Issue 2 (Spring 2026)
J Occup Health Epidemiol 2026, 15(2): 136-143 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Nezhadbagheripoor M, Kaabomeir N, Javedanipour Z, Farazestanian B. The Effect of Cognitive-Behavioral Stress-Management Training on Employees’ Psychological Well-Being, Self-Efficacy, Job Stress, and Intolerance of Uncertainty. J Occup Health Epidemiol 2026; 15 (2) :136-143
URL: http://johe.rums.ac.ir/article-1-1146-en.html
URL: http://johe.rums.ac.ir/article-1-1146-en.html
Related article in
Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Similar articles
1- M.Sc. in General Psychology, Dept. of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Khayyam University, Mashhad, Iran.
2- Assistant Prof., Dept. of Psychology, Binaloud Institution of Higher Education, Mashhad, Iran. ,n.kaabomeir@binaloud.ac.ir
3- Ph.D. Student in Specialized Psychology, Dept. of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Neyshabur, Iran.
2- Assistant Prof., Dept. of Psychology, Binaloud Institution of Higher Education, Mashhad, Iran. ,
3- Ph.D. Student in Specialized Psychology, Dept. of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Neyshabur, Iran.
Article history
Received: 2025/12/10
Accepted: 2026/04/17
ePublished: 2026/06/30
Accepted: 2026/04/17
ePublished: 2026/06/30
Subject:
Occupational Health
Abstract: (18 Views)
Background: Occupational stress affects employees’ mental health and performance. This study hypothesized that stress-management training would improve psychological well-being and self-efficacy and reduce intolerance of uncertainty through reductions in job stress.
Materials & Methods: This applied study employed a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group design among 30 call-center employees with high occupational stress in Mashhad, Iran, in 2023. Employees were assigned to experimental (n = 15) and control (n = 15) groups using purposive sampling. The experimental group received eight weekly 90-minute sessions of cognitive-behavioral stress management training. Data were collected using standardized measures of job stress, psychological well-being, self-efficacy, and intolerance of uncertainty. Analyses included paired-sample t-tests, multilevel regression models based on the Difference-in-Differences framework, and mediation analysis.
Results: The intervention significantly reduced job stress (β = −1.41, p = .003) and improved psychological well-being (β = 1.03, p = .045) and self-efficacy (β = 0.94, p = .049) compared with the control. Although intolerance of uncertainty decreased significantly within the experimental group, the Group × Time interaction was not significant (β = −0.88, p > .05). Reductions in job stress partially mediated improvements in psychological well-being (indirect effect = −0.14, 95% CI [−0.28, −0.02]).
Conclusions: Cognitive-behavioral stress-management training reduced job stress and enhanced psychological well-being and self-efficacy among call-center employees. Job stress may represent a mechanism linking workplace interventions to mental health outcomes. Structured stress-management programs may be a practical strategy for improving well-being and functioning in high-stress occupational settings.
Keywords: Occupational Stress [MeSH], Cognitive Behavioral Therapy [MeSH], Self-Efficacy [MeSH], Psychological Well-Being [MeSH], Uncertainty [MeSH]
References
1. HM Choi, Mohammad AAA, Kim WG. Understanding hotel frontline employees’ emotional intelligence, emotional labor, job stress, coping strategies and burnout. Int J Hosp Manag. 2019;82:199-208. [DOI]
2. Davies ACL. Stress at Work: Individuals or Structures?. Ind Law J. 2022;51(2):403-34. [DOI]
3. Terp U, Hjärthag F, Bisholt B. Effects of a Cognitive Behavioral-Based Stress Management Program on Stress Management Competency, Self-efficacy and Self-esteem Experienced by Nursing Students. Nurse Educ. 2019;44(1):E1-5. [DOI] [PMID]
4. Lucier‐Greer M, Frye‐Cox N, Reed‐Fitzke K, Ferraro AJ, Mancini JA. Military‐related stress, self‐efficacy, and anxiety: Investigating the role of marital quality in military couples. Fam Process. 2023;62(3):1253-71. [DOI] [PMID]
5. Rasool SF, Wang M, Zhang Y, Samma M. Sustainable work performance: the roles of workplace violence and occupational stress. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(3):912. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
6. Ryff CD. Psychological Well-Being Revisited: Advances in the Science and Practice of Eudaimonia. Psychother Psychosom. 2014;83(1):10-28. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
7. Frost S, Kannis-Dymand L, Schaffer V, Millear P, Allen A, Stallman H, et al. Virtual immersion in nature and psychological well-being: A systematic literature review. J Environ Psychol. 2022;80:101765. [DOI]
8. Zadok-Gurman T, Jakobovich R, Dvash E, Zafrani K, Rolnik B, Ganz AB, et al. Effect of inquiry-based stress reduction (Ibsr) intervention on well-being, resilience and burnout of teachers during the covid-19 pandemic. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(7):3689. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
9. Siebecke DE, Jarl M. Does the material well-being at schools successfully compensate for socioeconomic disadvantages? Analysis of resilient schools in Sweden. Large Scale Assess Educ. 2022;10(1):11. [DOI]
10. Shu J, Ochsner KN, Phelps EA. Trait Intolerance of Uncertainty Is Associated with Decreased Reappraisal Capacity and Increased Suppression Tendency. Affect Sci. 2022;3(3):528-38. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
11. Koerner N, Mejia T, Kusec A. What’s in a name? Intolerance of uncertainty, other uncertainty-relevant constructs, and their differential relations to worry and generalized anxiety disorder. Cogn Behav Ther. 2017;46(2):141-61. [DOI] [PMID]
12. Gorka SM, Nelson BD, Phan KL, Shankman SA. Intolerance of uncertainty and insula activation during uncertain reward. Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci. 2016;16(5):929-39. [DOI] [PMID]
13. Bandura A. Self-eficacy in chunging societies. New York, United States: Cambridge University Prees; 1997.
14. Egger SM, Frey S, Sauerzopf L, Meidert U. A Literature Review to Identify Effective Web- and App-Based mHealth Interventions for Stress Management at Work. Workplace Health Saf. 2023;71(10):452-63. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
15. Jentsch A, Hoferichter F, Blömeke S, König J, Kaiser G. Investigating teachers’ job satisfaction, stress and working environment: The roles of self-efficacy and school leadership. Psychol Sch. 2023;60(3):679-90.
16. Farzadkia M, Farhangi A, Abolghasemi S. Comparing the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction and intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy in reducing intolerance of uncertainty and depression in women with fibromyalgia. Women Health Bull. 2023;10(1):44-51. [DOI]
17. Kim MS, Kim K, Nam J, Lee SJ, Lee SW. Impact of Childhood Maltreatment on Cognitive Function and Its Relationship With Emotion Regulation in Young Adults. J Korean Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2024;35(3):155-62. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
18. Salsabilla A, Setiawan M, Juwita HA. The effect of workload and job stress on job satisfaction mediated by work motivation. Int J Res Bus Soc Sci. 2022;11(9):97-106. [DOI]
19. Wirtz PH, Auer A, Semmer NK, Ehlert U, Nussbeck FW. Beneficial effects of a cognitive-behavioral occupational stress management group training: the mediating role of changing cognitions. Front. Psychol. 2024;14:1232172. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
20. Howard AH, Roberts M, Mitchell T, Wilke NG. The Relationship Between Spirituality and Resilience and Well-being: a Study of 529 Care Leavers from 11 Nations. Advers Resil Sci. 2023;4(2):177-90. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
21. Girdano DA, Everly Jr GS, Dusek DE. Controlling Stress and Tension, 3rd ed. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, United States: Prentice Hall; 1990.
22. Adibi Z, Ansari-Shahidi M, Rahnejat A, Rezaei-Jamalouei H. The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy on the Job Stress and Psychological Well-being in Personnel with Burnout in Isfahan Gas Company. J Nurs Physician War. 2020;8(27):70-8. [DOI]
23. Ryff CD. Happiness Is Everything, or Is It? Explorations on the Meaning of Psychological Well-Being. J Personal Soc Psychol. 1989;57(6):1069.
24. Kalantar SM, Navarbafi F. Reliability and Exploratory Factor Analysis of Psychological Well-being in a Persian Sample. Sci Ser Data Rep. 2012;4(1):11-27.
25. Sherer M, Maddux JE, Mercandante B, Prentice-Dunn S, Jacobs B, Rogers RW. The Self-Efficacy Scale: Construction and Validation. Psychol Rep. 1982;51(2):663-71. [DOI]
26. Rajabi M, Zargham Hajebi M, Monirpour N. Explanation of the Model of Marital Commitment Based on Object Relations with the Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation. J Assess Res Appl Couns. 2024;6(4):181-8. [DOI]
27. Freeston MH, Rhéaume J, Letarte H, Dugas MJ, Ladouceur R. Why do people worry?. Pers Individ Dif. 1994;17(6):791-802. [DOI]
28. Rashtbari A, Diba T, Nasiri Sharaf F, Zolghadriha A, Saed O. I just want to be certain’: psychometric properties and predictive role of the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-12. Shenakht J Psychol Psychiatry. 2022;9(5):101-14. [DOI]
29. Nixon P, Ebert DD, Boß L, Angerer P, Dragano N, Lehr D. The Efficacy of a Web-Based Stress Management Intervention for Employees Experiencing Adverse Working Conditions and Occupational Self-efficacy as a Mediator: Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2022;24(10):e40488. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
30. Lee YJ. Effects of a mobile health intervention on activities of stress self-management for workers. Work. 2023;75(1):233-41. [DOI] [PMID]
31. Zetterberg H, Owiredua C, Åsenlöf P, Lennartsson R, Brodda Jansen G, Boersma K, et al. Preventing Pain and Stress-Related Ill-Health in Employees: A 6-Months Follow-Up of a Psychosocial Program in a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial. J Occup Rehabil. 2023;33(2):316-28. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
32. Andersson C, Mellner C, Lilliengren P, Einhorn S, Bergsten KL, Stenström E, et al. Cultivating Compassion and Reducing Stress and Mental Ill-Health in Employees—A Randomized Controlled Study. Front Psychol. 2022;12:748140. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
33. Li Q, Du H, Chi P. Job stress and well-being among internal migrant workers in China: A review and meta-analysis. Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2021;13(3):537-58. [DOI] [PMID]
34. Gajewski PD, Stahn C, Zülch J, Wascher E, Getzmann S, Falkenstein M. Effects of cognitive and stress management training in middle-aged and older industrial workers in different socioeconomic settings: a randomized controlled study. Front Psychol. 2023;14:1229503. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
35. Ponting C, Chavira DA, Dunkel Schetter C, Urizar GG. Cognitive behavioral stress management effects on prenatal anxiety among low-income women. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2022;90(2):148-60. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
36. Tör-Çabuk K, Koç V. Cognitive bias modification for perfectionism and intolerance of uncertainty: A randomized controlled trial. Psych J. 2024;13(4):679-91. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
37. Alhasani M, Orji R. Correction to: SortOut: Persuasive Stress Management Mobile Application for Higher Education Students. In: Baghaei N, Vassileva J, Ali R, Oyibo K. (eds). Persuasive Technology. Persuasive 2022. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 13213. Cham: Springer; 2022. [DOI]
38. Hsieh CM, Tsai BK. Effects of Social Support on the Stress-Health Relationship: Gender Comparison among Military Personnel. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(8):1317. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
39. Shao L, Guo H, Yue X, Zhang Z. Psychological Contract, Self-Efficacy, Job Stress, and Turnover Intention: A View of Job Demand-Control-Support Model. Front Psychol. 2022;13:868692. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
40. Arvidsson L, Skytt B, Lindberg M, Lindberg M. Nurses' assessed self-efficacy levels to medical asepsis and their relation to structural empowerment, work engagement and work-related stress. Work. 2023;74(2):501-13. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. |
