Impact of stress on health cognitions and behaviours

The present thesis attempts to extend the knowledge of stress- health behaviours
relationships by integrating social cognitive variables (i.e. from the TPB model) into
the study of stress. This thesis also aims to elucidate how nationality and gender
shape cognition, intention and health behaviour by utilizing samples representing
both individualistic and collectivistic cultures (i.e. UK and Malaysia) and both
genders. The results of a systematic review of relevant previous research examining
the effect of stressor (i.e. perceived stress, work-family conflict, work stress and
hassles) on health behaviours is reported first in Chapter 2. In pursuing the aims of
this study, three empirical studies (Chapter 3-5) were conducted. Study 1 examined
the utility of the TPB and the impact of perceived stress as well as additional
variables on nine types of health behaviours using both cross sectional and
prospective designs in student sample. In an attempt to further understand the effect
of stressors on health behaviours, using a cross-sectional design, Study 2 examined
the potential effects of job related characteristics (i.e. job demands, job resources,
job hours) and work-family conflicts on five types of health behaviours in a sample
of employees. Results of Study 1 and 2 highlighted the support for the efficacy of
TPB which consistently accounted for the largest proposition of explained variance
in intentions and behaviours. There was limited evidence to support the direct effect
of stress in explaining intentions and behaviours, yet a role for stress within TPB
was observed based on mediation and moderation approaches. Study 3 used a daily
diary method to examine the effects of daily job related characteristics, work-family
conflict, hassles on five types of health behaviours for 14 consecutive days. The
results demonstrated that the effects of stressors were particularly associated with
unhealthy behaviours including decreased fruit and vegetable intake, reduced
physical activity and increased smoking. Following the empirical studies, Chapter 6
provides a summary of key findings, discussion, implication of the findings,
limitations and also future directions for work in this area. Of note, the present thesis
demonstrated the implication of incorporating variables from a social cognitive
model (TPB) into the relationship between the study of stress and health behaviours,
both from theoretical and practical perspectives.