Effectiveness of Happiness Training Based on Fordyce Model on Cognitive Emotional Regulation Strategies and Job Burnout of Forensic Medicine Staff

Aim(s): Given the importance of the impact of occupational stress on many aspects of one's life, it is imperative to examine it in various organizations and departments, including forensic staff, for its role in health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of happiness training based on Fordyce model on cognitive emotional regulation strategies and job burnout of forensic medicine staff. Materials & Methods: This semi-experimental study with pretest-posttest design with a control group was conducted on 30 forensic medical staff in Tabriz in 2018 who were selected by random sampling method and randomly divided into experimental (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. The experimental group underwent 10 sessions of happiness training based on Fordyce model. Subjects in both groups completed cognitive emotional regulation and burnout questionnaires in pre- and post-test stages. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20 software using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Findings: After the educational intervention, there was a significant difference between the mean scores of positive cognitive emotional regulation strategies (except triviality) and negative cognitive emotional regulation strategies as well as emotional exhaustion and personal inadequacy of burnout in control and experimental groups (p<0.05), but the mean score of depersonalization component of burnout was not significantly different between the two groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: Happiness training based on Fordyce model is effective and useful to deal with stressful occupations that in the long run lead to difficulty in emotional regulation and burnout.