Developing stress-preventive management competencies: an evaluation of the mechanism and the process in a training experience

Purpose Developing stress-preventive management behaviors is recommended to improve psychosocial working conditions and employee well-being. A learning and development intervention based on the UK “Management Competencies for Preventing and Reducing Stress at Work (MCPARS)” is effective for helping supervisors to develop a personal action plan for change. However, research is needed to understand the mechanism through which a satisfactory action plan is developed. Design/methodology/approach A three-phase learning and development program based on the MCPARS framework was delivered to 50 supervisors in an Italian local health unit. We measured management competencies and development needs, the achievement of the intervention aims and two process variables. The Process Macro for SPSS was used to evaluate a moderated mediation model. Findings Supervisors’ self-awareness of their competencies fully mediated the relationship between understanding the importance of their managerial role and the development of a satisfactory action plan for change. Process variables contributed to better explaining the outcome. Originality/value These findings suggest that the order in which the intervention components are delivered and participants’ perceptions of the intervention are important. This knowledge is useful to inform the design and evaluation of future similar interventions.