Problem-Solving Training for Effective Stress Management and Prevention

According to recent theoretical and research developments in the area of stress and coping, social problem solving (i.e., real-life problem solving) appears to be an important general coping strategy that can have a significant effect on a person’s ability to reduce, control, and prevent the experience of stress in everyday living. Although an increasing number of studies have been providing support for this viewpoint, current stress-management programs still provide little or no training in general problem-solving principles. A new stress-management program is described that focuses on training in the application of a general problem-solving coping strategy. The results of three recent outcome studies are reported which, taken together, strongly suggest that problem-solving training is a viable and promising approach to stress management which increases positive psychological resources (problem-solving ability, self-esteem, life satisfaction), while reducing stress and its negative effects (psychological symptomatology, health problems).