Cognitive behavioral and psychoeducational intervention to modify coping styles and burnout syndrome in civil servants: An experimental study

Introduction

The study of the impact of psychological interventions to reduce stress at work is a focus of increasing attention for health professionals and employers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of cognitive behavioral and psychoeducational intervention on coping strategies, burnout syndrome symptoms and symptoms associated with stress in public officials of the State Human Rights Commission of Veracruz, Mexico.

Material and methods

Thirty one participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group that received the treatment (n = 15) or a waiting list control group (n = 16), both responded to self-report measures before and after the intervention, which was performed on the job site in eight two-hour sessions. Student's t-test was used and the magnitude of the effect was analyzed with Cohen's d-test to analyze the data.

Results

Both groups were equivalent before the intervention in both the sociodemographic and psychological variables. After the intervention, compared to the control, the experimental group made a higher use of active coping strategies and showed a decrease in their levels of burnout, with large effect sizes in both cases.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that a psychological intervention based on psychoeducation and problem solving is effective and viable to support public officials in managing work stress.