ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify the effective stress management strategies among the Chinese.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The sample was selected from Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Taiyuan by using a multi-stage sampling procedure, including 3679 subjects. The data were collected using the household interviewing survey method. The Chinese perceived stress scales (CPSS) measured stress. Stress management strategies included the cognitive and behavioral ones, the former were further divided into positive, neutral and negative ones and the latter were divided into three kinds, i.e. looking for support, liberating and displacing, and relaxing and detracting. The frequency of their usage and their perceived effectiveness were assessed. Multivariable analysis was used to examine the association between various stress management strategies and stress.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The prevalence of health risk stress (HRS) was 44.54% (95% CI: 42.90% - 46.12%). Among the cognitive strategies, all the positive strategies and one of neutral strategies ("Suiyuan") were associated with lower HRS, and the rest of them had no effects. Among the behavioral strategies, all were associated with lower HRS except that of looking for support.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The effective stress management strategies identified in this study might be used to develop a stress management program.</p>