For years, stress and its effects have been a common topic in both the popular and research literature. Stress management programs or interventions (SMIs) are programs that focus on reducing the presence of work-related stressors or assisting individuals to minimize the negative outcomes of exposure to these stressors. The techniques used to treat stress vary widely, including education, time management, physical exercise, assertiveness training, biofeedback, breathing techniques, meditation, massage, and communications training.

Stress has been difficult to define, which limits our ability to compare results across studies, because what is called stress in one study may differ from what is called stress in another. Educational interventions seek to inform the employee about the sources of stress, what stress feels like, how stressors can be avoided, and how the individual can better cope with stress. Skill-acquisition interventions, such as time management or assertiveness training, are designed to provide employees with new ways to cope with stressors affecting their lives and performance. Stress counseling is often now offered as part of an organization’s employee assistance program.