Citation

Richmond MK, Pampel FC, Wood RC, Nunes AP. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2016; 58(7): 641-650.

Affiliation

OMNI Institute (Richmond, Nunes); University of Colorado Boulder (Pampel); The State of Colorado, Department of Personnel and Administration (Retired from her position in July 2015) (Wood), Denver, Colorado.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/JOM.0000000000000744

PMID

27389792

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To test the impact of Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) on reducing employee depression, anxiety, and risky alcohol use, and whether improvements in clinical symptoms lead to improved work outcomes.

METHODS: The study used a prospective, quasi-experimental design with propensity score matching. Participants (n = 344) came from 20 areas of state government. EAP (n = 156) and non-EAP (n = 188) employees were matched on baseline demographic, psychosocial, and work-related characteristics that differentiate EAP from non-EAP users. Follow-up surveys were collected 2 to 12 months later (M = 6.0).

RESULTS: EAP significantly reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, but not at-risk alcohol use. EAP reductions in depression and anxiety mediated EAP-based reductions in absenteeism and presenteeism.

CONCLUSIONS: EAPs provide easy-to-access work-based services that are effective at improving employee mental health.

Language: en