Objective: To explore the stress management skills including cognitive skills and breathing relaxation skills in a group of industrial female workers in Songkhla province. The relationship between personal characteristics, perception of stress management methods, and self-efficacy beliefs in occupational stress management practices and stress management skills were also examined. Design: A cross sectional study
Material and Methods: The subjects were 144 female employees working in the production and quality control section on three rubber-glove factories in Songkhla province. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire.
Results: 47.9% and 3.5% of the respondents respectively had cognitive skills and relaxation skills in stress management at a good level. Multiple regression analysis showed that perceived stress management methods, self-efficacy beliefs in occupational stress management practices, and family monthly income together could explain 45.1% of the variance in cognitive skills in stress management, while self-efficacy beliefs in occupational stress management practices, working department and religion could together explain 19.9% of the variance in relaxation skills in stress management.
Conclusion: Subjects mostly had cognitive skills in stress management at a good level while breathing relaxation skills were mostly at a poor level. Personal characteristics, perception of stress management methods, and self-efficacy beliefs in occupational stress management practices were related to stress management skills of the industrial female workers. The results suggest that workers should be trained with stress management strategies in order to prevent adverse effects from occupational stress. Personal factors should also be taken into account when designing an intervention.