Syftet med studien var att undersöka samband mellan personlighetsdimensioner och upplevd stress på arbetsplatser utifrån fem-faktormodellen samt krav-kontrollmodellen. 128 deltagare deltog i enkätundersökningen; 58 män och 66 kvinnor mellan åldern 20-69 år. Studien var en tvärsnittsstudie med självskattningsfrågor och urvalet gjordes genom ett bekvämlighetsurval. Enkäterna besvarades på arbetsplatser i Örebro, Eskilstuna, Västerås och Stockholm. Tidigare forskning påvisar samband mellan personlighet och stress, men få undersöker detta utifrån krav-kontroll-stödmodellen. Föreliggande studie undersöker detta utifrån graden av krav och kontroll. T-test visade skillnader utifrån kön, envägs ANOVA visade skillnader i yrkestitel och ålder. Korrelationsanalyser visade positivt samband mellan krav och upplevd stress samt negativt samband mellan kontroll och upplevd stress. Resultatet visade positivt samband mellan agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness och krav samt positivt samband mellan openness och kontroll. / The purpose of the study was to examine correlations between personality traits and perceived stress at work places based upon the Five Factor model and demand-control model. 128 participants attended; 58 men and 66 women aged 20-69 years. The study was cross-sectional with self-report measures and convenience sampling. Surveys were answered at work places in Örebro, Eskilstuna, Västerås and Stockholm. Previous research show correlations between personality and stress, but few examine this through the demand-control-support model. Present study examine this through the demand-control model. T-test showed differences between gender, one-way ANOVA showed differences in occupation and age. There was a positive correlation between demand and perceived stress and a negative correlation between control and perceived stress. The results showed positive correlations between agreeableness, openness, conscientiousnness and demand, positive correlations between openness and control.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that disproportionately affects low-income and minority children in the United States. Some studies have found a clear link between poor housing quality and exposure to allergen triggers associated with increased risk of asthma. Other studies have evaluated the relationship between stressful circumstances due to chronic illness, premature birth or violence on asthma outcomes. Psychological stress is thought to weaken the immune and neuroendocrine response making the body more vulnerable to environmental allergens. Studies have been done to assess the impact of psychological stress due to violence or the care of long term-critically ill children on increased asthma morbidity. However, asthma morbidity is not equal in all low-income and minority communities. It is possible that a form of stress - housing stress - which results from living in substandard housing conditions, may in fact provide more insight into the pathways linking indoor home exposures and stress in a way that leads to greater asthma susceptibility. Few studies have been done to assess the impact of stress due to substandard housing conditions. OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of severe housing stress due to dilapidation, mold and a lack of housing control on child asthma control and on caregiver asthma-related quality of life. METHODS: A total of 143 children with asthma living in Boston, Massachusetts and between the ages of 4 and 18 were enrolled in the Boston Allergen Sampling Study between 2008 and 2011. Home visits were conducted to measure the levels of common allergens in the home and assess child asthma control, housing stress, perceived stress, and caregiver asthma-related quality of life. Housing stress was assessed based on resident perceptions of dilapidation, mold, and a lack of housing control; perceived stress for the caregiver was assessed using the Perceived-Stress Scale (PSS); child asthma control was assessed using Asthma Control Test (ACT) scores; and caregiver asthma-related quality of life was assessed using the Pediatric Asthma Caregiver Quality of Life (PACQOL) questionnaires. RESULTS: In a multivariate logistic regression severe housing stress was associated with 7.5 times increased odds of poor asthma control (OR = 7.51, 95%CI 2.7 to 20.79, p<0.0001) for the child and 3.0 times increased odds of poor caregiver asthma-related quality of life (OR = 3.02, 95%CI 1.37 to 6.63, p<0.006). This association was significant after adjusting for potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Independent of allergen exposure, the association between severe housing stress and asthma health outcomes for both the child and caregiver indicate that there is an emotional stress-based pathway directly tied to poor housing quality that poses increased risk for worse asthma health outcomes.

Denna kvantitativa studie inriktar sig på fysisk aktivitet i vardagen och dess påverkan på upplevd stress hos individer som tränar regelbundet. I ett samhälle där stillasittande och stress ökar kan den fysiskt aktiva vardagen vara en viktig faktor till ett hälsosamt liv. Syftet med studien var att undersöka om det finns skillnader i upplevd stress mellan individer som tränar regelbundet och är fysiskt aktiva på olika nivåer i vardagen, jämfört med individer som enbart tränar. Studien baserades på en enkät som 601 stycken individer besvarade. Insamlat material studerades sedan via ett statistikprogram, GraphPad Prism 8, för att finna signifikanta skillnader. Resultatet i studien visade att det inte fanns någon statistisk signifikant skillnad mellan grupperna i det totala värdet på frågorna om upplevd stress (PSS-14) (p=0,2467). Däremot fanns det signifikanta skillnader mellan grupperna i svaren på hälften av frågorna i PSS-14. Resultatet visade ett mönster som tenderade att peka på att en högre nivå av fysisk aktivitet bidrog till en lägre nivå av upplevd stress. / This quantitative study focuses on everyday physical activity and its impact on perceived stress in individuals who exercise regularly. In a society where sedentary lifestyles and stress increase, everyday physical activity can be an important factor in a healthy life. The purpose of the study was to investigate differences in perceived stress between individuals who exercise regularly and are physically active at different levels in everyday life, compared to individuals who only exercise alone. The study was based on a questionnaire that 601 individuals answered. Collected data material was then investigated using studied through a statistically program, GraphPad Prism 8, to determine significant differences. The results showed that there was no statistic significant difference between the groups in the total score on the perceived stress scale (PSS-14) (p=0,2467). However, there were significant differences between the groups in the answers to half of the questions in the questionnaire. The results showed a pattern that tended to indicate that a higher level of everyday physical activity contributed to a lower level of perceived stress.

Dans cette thèse, l’objectif est de comprendre les relations entre d’un côté la réussite académique (la performance académique) et le stress perçu subjectif, et d’un autre côté l’influence des différences individuelles (l’intelligence émotionnelle, les traits de personnalité et le chrono-type) sur la réussite académique, également les interactions entre ces différences individuelles et le stress perçu subjectif. 1) L’étude préliminaire est conduite pour clarifier la relation entre l’intelligence émotionnelle et la stratégie de coping chez les étudiants Chinois expatriés en France; 2) ensuite notre première étude a pour objectif de comprendre les différents éléments liés à la expatriation des étudiants Chinois en France : les causes et critères de la réussite d’expatriation subjective, les différentes sources de stress qu’ils ont rencontrées ainsi que leurs stratégies de faire face pendant leur expatriation sont interrogées; 3) avec les éléments ressortis de notre première étude, nous avons pu construire un questionnaire de la réussite d’expatriation subjective pour les étudiants Chinois en France. L’idée de départ est de valider ce questionnaire en comparant avec les autres paramètres des différences individuelles (Intelligence émotionnelle, intelligence culturelle, et de chrono-type). Malheureusement la passation de l’ensemble de ces questionnaires a pris une longueur de temps qui explique que peu de participants sont allés jusqu’au bout, cela ne nous permet pas finalement de valider ce questionnaire de la réussite d’expatriation. 4) Enfin, nous essayons de comprendre chez la population générale, c’est-à-dire les étudiants Français, les relations entre la réussite académique et les différences individuelles. / In this thesis, the objective is to understand the relationships between academic success (academic performance) and subjective perceived stress on the one hand, and the influence of individual differences (emotional intelligence, personality traits and chrono-type) on academic success on the other hand, as well as the interactions between these individual differences and subjective perceived stress. 1) Preliminary study is conducted to clarify the relationship between emotional intelligence and coping strategy among Chinese students expatriated in France; 2) our first study aims to understand the different elements related to the expatriation of Chinese students in France: the causes and criteria of subjective expatriation success, the different sources of stress they encountered as well as their strategies to cope during their expatriation are interviewed; 3) With the elements emerging from our first study, we were able to construct a questionnaire on subjective expatriation success for Chinese students in France. The initial idea is to validate this questionnaire by comparing individual differences (emotional intelligence, cultural intelligence, and chrono-type) with other parameters. Unfortunately, the completion of all these questionnaires took a long time, which explains why few participants completed them, which does not allow us to validate this questionnaire of expatriation success. 4) Finally, we try to understand the relationship between academic success and individual differences among the general population, i.e. French students.

För att bättre kunna förstå och hjälpa de som drabbas av långvarig smärtproblematik är detviktigt att applicera ett biopsykosocialt perspektiv. En tidigare studie föreslog att en vissskattning av smärtintensitet i ett cold pressor test (CPT) var en biomarkör för utvecklingen avlångvarig smärtproblematik. Denna studie syftade till att undersöka huruvida dennaföreslagna biomarkör, samt variansen i sammanlagd smärtintensitet under CPT, kan förklarasav uppfattad stress respektive utmattningssymtom, utöver demografiska faktorer ochsymtomkatastrofiering. Deltagarna (n = 35) genomförde ett CPT. CPT-skattningaranalyserades tillsammans med demografiska faktorer, symtomkatastrofiering, uppfattad stressoch utmattningssymtom i hierarkiska regressionsanalyser och hierarkiska binära logistiskaregressionsanalyser. Resultaten visade att högre grad av uppfattad stress predicerade lägresmärtintensitet, utöver övriga faktorer. Utmattningssymtom hade ingen signifikant effekt påsmärtintensitet. Inga undersökta faktorer kunde förklara den föreslagna biomarkören.Resultatet indikerar att det finns en suppressoreffekt där katastrofiering och uppfattad stresspåverkar varandra ömsesidigt. Detta visar på det komplexa biopsykosociala samspel sompåverkar upplevelsen av smärta. Denna komplexitet och interaktion är viktig att ha i åtankenär individer i riskzonen för att utveckla smärtproblematik ska identifieras. / In order to help and understand patients with chronic pain, it is important to apply abiopsychosocial perspective. One previous study proposed a specific rating in a cold pressortest (CPT) as a biomarker for the development of persistent pain. This study aimed to explorewhether this proposed biomarker, and the sum of pain intensity ratings during CPT, could beexplained by perceived stress and exhaustion symptoms respectively, above and beyonddemographic factors and symptom catastrophizing. The participants (n = 35) performed aCPT. CPT-ratings were analyzed, together with demographic factors, symptomcatastrophizing, perceived stress and exhaustion symptoms, using hierarchical regressionanalyses and hierarchical binary logistic regression analyses. The results showed that higherlevels of perceived stress predicted lower pain intensity, above and beyond the other variablesexamined. Exhaustion symptoms showed no significant effect on pain intensity. None of thevariables could explain the proposed biomarker. The results indicate a suppressor effectwhere symptom catastrophizing and perceived stress interact and influence each othersimultaneously. This highlights the biopsychosocial interplay which influences painexperience. This complexity and interaction is an important factor to consider in the processof identifying individuals who are at risk for developing persistent pain.

Bakgrund: Stressrelaterade sjukdomar har blivit allt vanligare i Sverige. Stress är kopplat till flertalet sjukdomar, psykisk ohälsa och smärta. Meditation i olika former har visat sig påverka ett flertal funktioner i hjärnan positivt, och kan ha en stressreducerande effekt hos människor. Problemformulering:Få studier har undersökt den subjektiva upplevelsen av stress i samband med meditation. Att minska och förebygga stress är intressant ur ett fysioterapeutiskt perspektiv då stress kan försämra hälsa. Syfte:Att undersöka om meditation kan ha en stressreducerande effekt för ett mindre antal meditationsutövare med ingen eller liten erfarenhet, under fem veckor. Metod: Tre personer fick skatta upplevd stress dagligen genom en modifierad version av PSS-14 bestående av tre frågor under baslinje och intervention som berör upplevelsen av stress och nervositet, irritationsmoment och känslan av att kontrollera viktiga saker i livet. Interventionen bestod av en nybörjarkurs i en stilla meditationsform fördelat på fyra kurstillfällen bestående av teoretisk och praktisk undervisning samt 45–60 minuters meditationsutövande dagligen. Antal minuter som mediterats besvarades också dagligen. Resultat:Upplevelsen av stress och nervositet minskade, förmågan att hantera irritationsmoment ökade och känslan av att inte ha kontroll över viktiga saker i livet minskade hos samtliga deltagare. Ingen tydlig skillnad observerades mellan självskattning av de tre aspekterna hos varje enskild individ under interventionen. Konklusion:Meditation kan ha positiva effekter på alla tre aspekterna av stress. Andra metoder som multipel baslinje-design, längre baslinje och strategier för att fånga upp externa faktorer hade behövts, vilket kunde ha producerat mer trovärdiga resultat. / Background:Cases of stress-related disorders have increased in Sweden. Stress is related to several diseases and mental illness and could cause or aggravate pain. Meditation has previously shown positive effects on brain functioning and could reduce perceived stress. Problem: Few studies have examined the subjective experience of stress in association with meditation. To reduce and prevent stress is of interest from a physiotherapeutic perspective, as stress could deteriorate health conditions. Purpose:To examine if meditation during five weeks could reduce stress in a small number of meditation-practitioners with no or little experience. Method:Three participants assessed perceived stress using a modified version of the PSS-14 existing of three questions during baseline and intervention concerning the sensation of stress and anxiety, sources of irritation and the ability to control important things in life. The intervention included taking part of a beginners’ course in sitting meditation including four course meetings consisting of both theoretical and practical teachings and 45-60 minutes of meditation practice daily. Results:Perceived stress and anxiety were reduced, the ability to control irritations in life was improved and the feeling of being unable to control important things in life was reduced in all participants. No distinct differences were noted between assessments of all three aspects of stress in every individual separately. Conclusion: Meditation could havepositive effects on all three aspects of stress. Other methods such as multiple baseline design, longer baseline and strategies to identify external factors should have been used which might have produced more credible results.

Time Perspective (TP) describes the attitude individuals have towards the past, present, and future. This study investigated the associations between TP and self-reported everyday prospective and retrospective memory problems, controlling for stress. Ninety-five participants (18-60 years) completed an online survey which included the Swedish Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (S-ZTPI), the Prospective Retrospective Memory Questionnaire, and the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale. Bivariate correlation analysis revealed that Past Negative, Present Fatalistic, and Future Negative views were associated with more self-reported prospective and retrospective memory problems. Moreover, a Future Positive view was associated with better prospective memory scores. TP biases were assessed using the Deviations From a Balanced Time Perspective measure (DBTP). Hierarchal regression analyses revealed that DBTP accounted for almost 30% of the variance in prospective memory scores and for 25% of the variance in retrospective memory scores, beyond stress. Taken together, the results show a significant link between TP and self-reported everyday memory problems. Future studies should take other variables such as depression, anxiety, mood, and personality into account to shed further light on the association between TP and everyday memory problems. Regarding practical implications, interventions that are aimed at promoting a balanced TP might be used to enhance everyday memory ability. / Tidsperspektiv (TP) beskriver attityden individer har till det förflutna, nuet och framtiden. Denna studie undersökte sambanden mellan TP och självrapporterade vardagliga prospektiva och retrospektiva minnesproblem, som kontrollerat för stress. Nittiofem deltagare (18-60 år) fyllde i en onlineenkät som inkluderade Swedish Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (S-ZTPI), Prospective Retrospective Memory Questionnaire och 10-item Perceived Stress Scale. Bivariat korrelationsanalys avslöjade att tidigare negativa, nuvarande fatalistiska och framtida negativa åsikter var associerade med mer självrapporterade prospektivt och retrospektivt minnesproblem. Dessutom var en framtidspositiv syn förknippad med bättre prospektivt minnespoäng. TP-biaser utvärderades med hjälp av måttet Deviations From a Balanced Time Perspective (DBTP). Hierarkiska regressionsanalyser visade att DBTP stod för nästan 30 % av variansen i prospektiva minnespoäng och för 25 % av variansen i retrospektiva minnespoäng, bortom stress. Sammantaget visar resultaten ett signifikant samband mellan TP och självrapporterade vardagsminnesproblem. Framtida studier bör ta hänsyn till andra variabler som depression, ångest, humör och personlighet för att ytterligare belysa sambandet mellan TP och vardagsminnesproblem. När det gäller praktiska implikationer kan interventioner som syftar till att främja en balanserad TP användas för att förbättra vardagsminnesförmågan.

Obesity is a risk factor for chronic diseases among the ethnic minorities for adult immigrants in the United States. There have been many research studies conducted to examine the relationship between the predictors and obesity in minority groups in the United States, that relationship was unknown in Meskhetian Turk (Ahiska) immigrant populations. Guided by social ecological model and acculturation theory, this study examined the predictors of obesity in the Meskhetian Turk (Ahiska) immigrant population in the western United States. Data were collected from 109 participants using CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Stephenson Multigroup Acculturation Scale, and Perceived Stress Scale. Participants were recruited through flyers in a public setting and data were analyzed through SPSS using logistic regression and Spearman's correlation. The result of the study showed no statistical association between obesity and the predictors of age, gender, socio-economic status, physical activity, acculturation, and perceived stress. This study, however, showed a significant association between daily vegetable, fruit, and hamburger, cheeseburger or meat loaf consumption and obesity, and weekly vegetable consumption, monthly hamburger, cheeseburger or meat loaf consumption and moderate/morbid obesity. The study findings suggest that, through targeted community-based intervention and education programs, there is positive social change in the value of healthy lifestyle and the impact of the predictors of obesity, especially diet of Meskhetian Turk (Ahiska) immigrant population in the United States. Further investigation should focus into other causes of obesity using a larger sample size.

There is a likelihood of stress in working students' struggles to manage work, family, studies, and personal life, yet little is known about differences in stress levels between male and female online students. Previous studies suggested that more men than women balanced work and family owing to women's asymmetrical family responsibilities. The purpose of this study was to examine the moderating effects of gender on the relationships of work-life balance and work-study interface of working online students and their perceived stress and satisfaction with life. In this quantitative study, the theoretical framework included social role theory and spillover theory. A convenience sample of 80 working online students (aged 20-60+ years) participated in an online survey. Particpants completed a demographic survey, work-life balance scale, work-study interface scale, perceived stress scale, and satisfaction with life scale. Collected data were analyzed using regression analysis. The results indicated that in both work-life balance and work-study interface, working female online students had higher levels of perceived stress than males, and women had a lower level of satisfaction with life than men in work-study interface. Understanding spillover experiences and gender social roles of working online students in their work-life balance and work-study interface may lead to positive social change by providing useful information for policy makers to support online students. The study may also provide an understanding of the dynamic of the work-life-study balance for the students themselves.

No description available.