Management of stress in tea estate workers through positive therapy

Pages:62-66
S. Gayatridevi and Preetha H. (Department of Psychology, Avinashilingam University for Women, Coimbatore)

Thirty-two subjects (23 Female and 9 male) from Devi Tea Estate, Pallada , Nilgiris were screened using Case Study Schedule (Natesan, 2005) and Stress Inventory (Hemalatha Natesan and Nandini Menon, 2004) in the age range of 17-50 years were selected by Purposive Sampling Method. Positive Therapy was used as the Psychological Intervention to help the sample to manage stress. The sample were divided into 3 batches of 10 to 11 in each batch and were given Positive Therapy for one hour per session. Five sessions were given for five consecutive days. Two weeks after the therapy, the sample was reassessed using Case Study Re-assessment Schedule and Stress Inventory. The results showed initially, the entire sample ( 100%) had ‘High’ stress. After Positive Therapy, most of them (81%) had ‘Low’ stress. There was statistically significant reduction in the mean stress of sample from ‘High’ to ‘Low’. The main sources of stress were work and procrastination . The symptoms of stress reported by most of the sample were insomnia, loss of concentration and anxiety. The negative emotions experienced by majority of the sample were fear, worries, anger and anxiety. But after Positive Therapy, there was an enormous reduction in the number of subjects experiencing symptoms and negative emotions due to stress. Thus, there was a great influence of Positive Therapy in reducing the stress, symptoms and negative emotions of the selected Tea Estate Workers.