Effectiveness of Solution Focused Brief Therapy on Reducing Workplace Stress among IT Employees

Abstract

Workplace stress is a prevalent issue in the IT sector, impacting employee’s well-being and organizational productivity. SFBT is a brief, goal-oriented therapeutic approach that emphasizes solution rather than problem, making it suitable for addressing and effectively reducing workplace stress. SFBT interventions significantly reduced stress levels and improved coping mechanisms among nurses (Kim, Lang, an Lee, 2019). Similarly, a study highlighted that positive impact of SFBT on stress reduction in corporate setting (Jones and Woods, 2018). The main aim of this study was to analyse the effectiveness of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy on reducing workplace stress among IT employees. An experimental research design was used, a total sample of 30 participants from the region of Pattukkottai, Thanjavur district were selected. Out of 30 participants, only 10 participants (N=10) who have identified moderate to high level of stress and met with all inclusion and exclusion criteria were only chosen to participate in this study by purposive sampling method. Ten participants were randomly divided into two groups— 5 in experimental group (N =5) and 5 in control group (N =5). For the experimental group, Solution-focused brief therapy was performed in 5 sessions of 45-60 minutes (1 session weekly), however the control group did not receive any intervention. Workplace stress of the participants from both the experimental and control group before and after intervention, were assessed by using the instrument Workplace Stress Scale (WSS), by Marlin Company, USA, (2001). The effectiveness of SFBT was analysed using paired sample t test. The results showed that the mean score of workplace stress after intervention was significantly lower in the participants of the experimental group than in the control group. In other words, solution-focused group therapy had a significant effect in reducing workplace among IT employees.