The preventative impact of management coaching on psychological strain

Weinberg, A

Abstract

Objectives: The positive impact of coaching on a range of outcomes, including the well-being of those in receipt of it, has been highlighted by a number of published reviews (e.g. de Haan and Duckworth, 2013) and meta-analyses (e.g. Jones, Woods and Guillaume, 2015). The objective of this study was to assess the potential for coaching to act as a primary level intervention preventing deterioration in psychological health during organisational change.
Design: A quasi-experimental longitudinal study was conducted using separate samples of managers (46 in the intervention groups and 30 in the control group) who either volunteered to receive coaching or were directed to do so by their employer.
Methods: Psychological health (assessed using GHQ-12) and psycho-social aspects of the work environment were assessed pre- and post-intervention.
Results: Symptoms of poor psychological health significantly increased in the control group, but not among managers in receipt of coaching. A significant negative relationship was noted between increased symptoms of strain and the number of coaching sessions attended.
Conclusions: Consistent with the Conservation of Resources Model, the results indicate that coaching can have a protective effect on psychological health, however its impact may be influenced by the number of coaching sessions and organisational factors.

Citation

Weinberg, A. (2016). The preventative impact of management coaching on psychological strain. International Coaching Psychology Review, 11(1), 93-105

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jun 1, 2016
• Journal: International Coaching Psychology Review
• Print ISSN: 1750-2764
• Publisher: The British Psychological Society
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 93-105