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Degree

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, Psychology/Clinical, 2010.

Abstract

Work stress is a major concern in today’s workplace. Highly stressed workers report more problems related to productivity at work than their less stressed colleagues. Namely, innovation is impacted by work stress. Cognitive interference theory suggests that evaluation anxiety leads to increased levels of off-task thinking. In turn, attention is diverted from on-task thinking and performance (e.g., innovation) is impaired. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for work stress may be an effective intervention to increase innovation by diminishing the effects of off-task thinking through mindfulness and acceptance. To explore this idea, a community sample of 23 individuals will be randomly assigned to an ACT work stress intervention or a control group. The intervention will consist of two 3-hour sessions held one week apart. Acceptance, propensity to innovate, stress, work control, and cognitive interference will be assessed pre intervention, post intervention, and at one and three month follow ups. Analyses are expected to show that participants receiving the ACT intervention will demonstrate higher levels of acceptance and innovation and lower levels of stress, work control, and cognitive interference than control participants at post treatment, and acceptance and cognitive interference will mediate changes in innovation at post treatment.

Subject Headings

Psychology

Keywords

ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT THERAPY; WORK STRESS; INNOVATION; INTERVENTION

Committee / Advisors

William O'Brien (Advisor)
Rob Carels (Committee Member)
Steve Jex (Committee Member)

Document number: bgsu1288749862
Permalink: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1288749862

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