# Effectiveness of leader-targeted stress management interventions: A systematic review and meta-analysis

## TL;DR

This study reviews and analyzes the effectiveness of stress management interventions aimed at leaders to improve their mental health and leadership outcomes.

## Contribution

A systematic review and meta-analysis of leader-targeted stress management interventions and their impact on mental health and leadership outcomes.

## Key findings

- Leader-targeted SMI showed significant improvements in mental health outcomes.
- Work- and leadership-related outcomes also improved after excluding influential cases.
- The overall intervention effect was small but significant for mental health.

## Abstract

Based on the well-documented role of supervisors' in fostering healthy workplaces and managing the impact of work-related stress, the aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of leader-targeted stress management interventions (SMI) on their psychological stress, mindfulness, mental health, and work- and leadership-related outcomes.

Eligible studies, including randomized controlled trials or controlled before–after studies, examining the effects of leader-targeted SMI on supervisors' psychological stress, mindfulness, mental health, and work- and leadership-related outcomes, were identified in four electronic databases and supplemented by manual search strategies. Screening for eligibility, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and certainty of evidence grading, following PRISMA guidelines and Cochrane Handbook recommendations, were done in duplicate. Data were pooled in random effects models to synthesize g-scores. Sensitivity and moderator analyses were used to assess the robustness of the results and explore potential sources of heterogeneity.

The 25 studies (N=2466 participants) meeting the full inclusion criteria varied widely in population characteristics, intervention types, duration, delivery methods, and examined outcomes. The overall intervention effect was g=0.13 [95% confidence interval (CI) -0.24– -0.01] after excluding outliers. Significant intervention effects were found for mental health [g=-0.38 (95% CI -0.69– -0.08)] and, after excluding influential cases, work- [g=-0.32 (95% CI -0.63– -0.00)] and leadership-related outcomes [g=-0.23 (95% CI -0.44– -0.02)].

Our meta-analysis suggests that leader-targeted SMI can be an effective approach for promoting occupational health.