Evidence that brief self-affirming implementation intentions can reduce work-related anxiety in downsize survivors.

Background and Objectives: Workers were recruited from a UK further education college during a period of organisational downsizing. The study assessed the effects of a brief health psychology intervention on work-related stress in downsize survivors. Design and Methods: Sixty-six employees were randomly allocated to one of two conditions: one in which they were asked to create a work-related self-affirming implementation intention (WS-AII), or a control. Feelings of anxiety and depression were measured before and after the intervention or control task, and three weeks later. Job satisfaction, self-efficacy, and self-esteem were also measured. Results: There were statistically significant differences between the WS-AII condition and the control. Workers who created work-related self-affirming implementation intentions reported an immediate reduction in anxiety. This reduction was also observed in their appraisal of job-related anxiety three weeks later. There were no significant effects of WS-AII's on depression, job satisfaction or self-esteem. There was, however a significant effect on self-efficacy with workers in the WS-AII condition reporting greater self-efficacy. Conclusions: The present findings suggest that the integration of brief health psychology interventions, such as the WS-AII, into existing organisational practice may be of benefit to the well-being of employees.