Fiona Jones

Effects of daily hassles and eating style on eating behavior.

OBJECTIVE This study investigated the daily hassles-eating behavior relationship and its moderators in a naturalistic setting. DESIGN A multilevel diary design was used to examine day-to-day within-person effects of daily hassles on eating behavior (N = 422), together with the individual and simultaneous influence of potential moderating variables. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Daily diary reports of between-meal snacking, fruit and vegetable consumption and perceived variations in daily food intake. RESULTS The results showed daily hassles were associated with increased consumption of high fat/sugar snacks and with a reduction in main meals and vegetable consumption. Ego-threatening, interpersonal and work-related hassles were associated with increased snacking, whereas, physical stressors were associated with decreased snacking. The overall hassles-snacking relationship was significantly stronger and more positive at high compared to low levels of restraint, emotional eating, disinhibition, external eating and in females and obese participants. Simultaneous consideration of these moderators indicated that emotional eating was the pre-eminent moderator of the hassles-snacking relationship. CONCLUSION Daily hassles were associated with an increase in unhealthy eating behavior. These changes may indicate an important indirect pathway through which stress influences health risk.

Adherence to an exercise prescription scheme: the role of expectations, self-efficacy, stage of change and psychological well-being.

OBJECTIVES Poor rates of adherence to exercise prescription schemes present a potential barrier to the goal of increasing physical activity in patient samples. This study investigated the role of participant expectations, self-efficacy, stage of change and psychological well-being in adherence to a 12-week course of gym based exercise. It also aimed to assess the impact of failure to adhere on self-efficacy and psychological well-being. METHOD The 119 participants, referred by their medical practitioner for a course of exercise, completed questionnaires at the start of the course and 77 went on to complete second questionnaires. Objective measures included a range of physiological measures based on gym assessments. RESULTS Participants typically had high expectations of the scheme. Those who completed the course had more modest expectations of change and came closer to achieving these expected changes than those who dropped out. Initial stage of change and self-efficacy did not discriminate between the two groups. While self-efficacy improved over the scheme for completers, it tended to deteriorate for drop-outs. GHQ scores also failed to improve over time for drop-outs. CONCLUSION Overly optimistic expectations of inexperienced exercisers may lead to disappointment and attrition. Interventions to ensure realistic expectations might increase success and prevent potential negative effects of failure.

Lay representations of workplace stress: What do people really mean when they say they are stressed?

Abstract An individuals beliefs in relation to stress are likely to affect their perceptions, and hence their work-related actions (such as absenteeism). In this paper, lay representations of work stress were investigated utilising semi-structured interviews with 45 individuals from a range of occupations. The meaning of occupational stress, its antecedents and outcomes, and ways by which it may be managed were examined. Dominant factors were established through the use of thematic content analysis. Similarities and differences were found between lay and professional discourses on work stress. Results indicate that lay representations of occupational stress are multi-faceted. Little consensus was found in how participants interpreted the concept: a diverse range of personal, environmental, and societal factors was highlighted. A different (and arguably more complex) range of definitions of job stress and the manner in which it impacts on individuals was revealed than has been reported in previous studies. The causes of stress at work were perceived as being predominantly organisational, but the impact of stress on the employee was more salient than organisational outcomes. Paradoxically, secondary and tertiary stress management techniques were thought to be more effective than interventions designed to prevent stress at work. Interviewees with line management responsibility were more likely to emphasise individual responsibility for managing stress, most others maintained that the individual and the organisation are equally responsible. The potential value of examining lay representations of job stress to the discipline of Occupational Health Psychology is discussed and suggestions for future research are made.

'Running Up the Down Escalator': Stressors and strains in UK academics

Little research at a national level has examined stressors and strains in academics in the United Kingdom, although the sector has undergone widespread and rapid change during the past decade. This study suggests that job stress and demands have increased significantly in recent years, and job satisfaction and levels of support have declined. Several stressors were identified that are not only characteristics of the organisational climate, but also features of national educational policy. High levels of psychological distress were found in comparison with academics in other countries, and with other professional groups and the general population in the United Kingdom. Perceptions of work-home conflict had particularly strong relationships with psychological distress and job dissatisfaction. Recommendations for primary and secondary stress management in UK universities are outlined.

A life beyond work? job demands, work-life balance, and wellbeing in UK academics

SUMMARY Research findings from several countries suggest that academic work has become comparatively stressful, with potentially serious consequences for the workforce and the quality of higher education. This article reports the findings of a study that examined work demands, work-life balance and wellbeing in UK academic staff. Job demands and levels of psychological distress were high and working during evenings and weekends was commonplace. Most academics surveyed, however, were at least moderately satisfied with their jobs. Work-life balance was generally poor and most respondents wished for more separation between their work and home lives. Academics who reported more work-life conflict and perceived a greater discrepancy between their present and ideal levels of work-life integration tended to be less healthy, less satisfied with their jobs, and more likely to have seriously considered leaving academia. On the whole, academics that perceived more control over their work, more schedule flexibility and more support from their institutions had a better work-life balance. These factors, however, failed to moderate the relationship between work demands and perceptions of conflict between work and home.

The impact of working life on health behavior: the effect of job strain on the cognitive predictors of exercise.

The theory of planned behavior (TPB) and R. A. Karaseks (1979) job strain model were used to investigate the predictors of exercise in a group of employees. A total of 241 employees completed an initial questionnaire; 1 week later 213 employees responded to a questionnaire measuring behavior. Employees in high-strain jobs did significantly less exercise than those in low-strain jobs, although they did not intend to do less, suggesting that work may impede the intention implementation. Intenders who failed to exercise had significantly higher work demands and lower exercise self-efficacy than intenders who succeeded in exercising. Work also affected exercise indirectly through self-efficacy. Thus, work may be a target for behavior change intervention because of its impact at 2 stages of the TPB.

From knowledge to action regulation: modeling the cognitive prerequisites of sun screen use in australian and uk samples

Abstract Sun protective cognition and behaviour was studied on beaches in Australia (n =113) and in the UK (n = 376). Cognition measures based on social psychological models, including the Theory of Planned Behaviour, were used to construct a model of sunscreen use. Path analysis showed that knowledge, norms, perceived threat, self-efficacy and perceived importance of short-term negative consequences of sun exposure accounted for 44% of the variance in intentions to use sunscreen. A measure of prior planning contributed as much to the prediction of behaviour as did intentions and there was support for both a moderating and a mediating influence of planning on intention. The results support theoretical proposals that post-decisional cognitions should be added to current theoretical models and have implications for intervention design.

The impact of a stress management programme on staff well-being and performance at work

Abstract Stress management programmes were implemented for direct care staff in two group homes for people with learning disabilities. Staff working in three similar homes were used as controls. Assessments were made of anxiety and depression levels and demands, supports and constraints at work. Staff in the intervention houses were also observed at work to determine who they were interacting with, the nature and type of the interaction and the amount of time spent on different aspects of the job. This information was used to inform and develop an intervention aimed at the groups of staff involved. Goals were set with the aim of reducing levels of anxiety and depression in staff and these were subject to review. Reassessment in intervention houses showed reductions in anxiety and increased perceived support when compared to controls. There were also changes in some observational measures, particularly increased positive interactions and assistance given to clients, and formal education programmes. These r...

Effort-reward imbalance, over-commitment and work-life conflict: testing an expanded model

Purpose – Although the effort‐reward imbalance (ERI) model of job stress has gained support in predicting employee health, it has rarely been examined in the context of the work‐home interface. This study aims to test an expanded ERI model in predicting work‐life conflict (WLC) in university employees. Three hypotheses relating to the ERI are tested. It is also predicted that lower organisational support for work‐life balance, less schedule flexibility and lower levels of separation between work and home life will lead to increased work‐life conflict.Design/methodology/approach – In this cross‐sectional study, 1,108 employees working in UK universities completed questionnaires assessing ERI, WLC, schedule flexibility, employer support and work‐life separation/integration.Findings – Strong main effects of job‐related efforts, rewards and over‐commitment on WLC are found. A significant two‐way interaction (effort×reward) and some evidence for a three‐way interaction effort×reward×over‐commitment) are observ...

The role of perceived need within the theory of planned behaviour: a comparison of exercise and healthy eating.

OBJECTIVES This study examined the effect of perceived need on exercise and healthy eating using the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). In addition, it investigated the determinants of perceived need. METHOD Participants completed a questionnaire measuring components of TPB and perceived need. A follow-up questionnaire 1 week later measured behaviour. The questionnaires were completed by e-mail. The initial questionnaire was completed by 331 adults, and 286 follow-up questionnaires were returned. RESULTS Perceived behavioural control was the main predictor of exercise intention and affective attitude was the main predictor of healthy eating intention. Perceived need significantly contributed to the prediction of healthy eating intention but not to exercise intention. Intention and perceived behavioural control predicted actual behaviour but perceived need did not. Reasons reported for the perception of needing to engage in both behaviours mainly focused on physical health and weight control. CONCLUSIONS Reasons reported for low perceived need suggest that the concept of perceived need may be rather ambiguous, particularly in the case of exercise. Therefore, further research is needed to elucidate the role of perceived need in relation to a variety of health behaviours.