Stress Gym

Description:

Stress Gym is based on a manualised CBT intervention for stress. Originally the program was developed for military personnel - however it has been slightly modified for the civilian population. It consists of 8 modules that you can work through at your own pace and includes information and interactive exercises. The modules focus on stress awareness, managing stress in relationships, problem solving, stress associated with health issues, and maladaptive responses to stress. You are not currently able to save responses to exercises within the program - and are advised to print any exercises you complete.

Service URL:

http://www.depressiontoolkit.org/stressgym/

Agency Responsible:

University of Michigan.

Details

Format:

Website.

Intervention Types:

Educational (primarily educational material or psychoeducation) and Psychological – CBT.

Course Length:

Long (more than 5 modules). 8 self-paced modules

Support Option:

No support.

Target Audience

Primary Category:

Stress.

Target Audience:

Adult. Originally designed for military personnel but this publicly available version has been modified for the civilian population

Language:

English.

Access

Fee:

Free.

Access:

Open: No registration required. The civilian version is freely available - however the version designed for military personnel is not currently available

Contact Details:

depression@umich.edu

Research evidence

Research Trials:

1

Research RCTs:

0

Outcome Summary:

The effectiveness of the military version of Stress Gym has been reported in one study. In this study Naval officers showed lower perceived stress scores following completion of the Stress Gym program. Participants provided overall positive ratings about the program, the quality of the stress related information, the availability of information about sleep, reacting to stress, changing thinking patterns and belonging and relationships, as well as the brevity and "digestibility" of the modules. However, there is no evidence specifically relating to the efficacy of the civilian version of Stress Gym. The additional paper cited below relates to the development of the program.

Recommended rating, reviewer 1:

Recommended rating, reviewer 2:

Read more about Beacon's Smiley Rating System.

Research paper citations

Evaluation evidence studies:
Williams, A., Hagerty, B. M., Brasington, S. J., Clem, J. B., & Williams, D. A. (2010). Stress Gym: Feasibility of deploying a web-enhanced behavioral self-management program for stress in a military setting. Military Medicine, 175(7), 487-493.

Additional references:
William, R.A., Gatien, G. and Hagert, B. (2011) Design element alternatives for stress-management intervention websites. Nursing Outlook, 59(5): 286-291.