The effect of perceived stress on life satisfaction

The relationships between gratitude, satisfaction with life, and stress have been widely examined in different cultures. However, empirical research on these variables is scant in Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study was to investigate the mediation effect of stress in the relationship between gratitude and life satisfaction in an understudied population of Arabic student sample. Participants were 141 Arabic-speaking undergraduate students (18 males and 123 females; mean age = 23.8 years, SD = 4.23) and completed self-report measures of gratitude, satisfaction with life, and stress. As expected, regression analysis showed that gratitude positively predicted satisfaction with life, while stress negatively predicted satisfaction with life. Mediation analysis showed that stress fully mediate the relationship between gratitude and life satisfaction. Higher levels of gratitude positively predicted higher levels of satisfaction with life though the decreased stress. The emerging results have important implications to research and practice regarding understanding the mechanism underlying gratitude, satisfaction with life, and stress in the context of a non-western country.

Purpose : to find out the effect of regular physical exercises and perceived stress interaction on students’ satisfaction with life. Material and methods : The study involved university students (n = 355; М age = 19,97; SD = 2,12). The moderator analysis was conducted according to the cross-sectional questionnaire. Results : It is determined that the difference in students' satisfaction with life at the average and high perceived stress is due to physical exercises. The influence of the interaction of variables (physical activity x perceived stress) on satisfaction with life was statistically significant. Conclusions : It is revealed the peculiarities of interaction between the physical exercises and perceived stress. The reduce of satisfaction with life under the influence of perceived stress is more typical for those students who do not regularly practice physical exercises. Physical exercises act as a buffer against stress.

ObjectiveStress has major socioeconomic implications for all spheres of employment. It is a trigger for depression, and affects absenteeism, turnover, productivity, morale and suicide. Positive or negative cognitive stress appraisal can be a self-care strategy that affects workers’ ability to cope with stress. This study examined cognitive stress appraisal among workers and identified related individual and environmental factors.DesignCross-sectional study using self-administered postal questionnaires.SettingCompanies located in two metropolitan areas of Japan (Tokyo and Kanagawa prefectures).Participants2311 employees of 48 companies in metropolitan areas in Japan. In total, 341 questionnaires were returned (response rate: 14.8%), 337 of which were suitable for analysis (effective response rate: 98.8%).Primary measuresCognitive stress appraisal was assessed using the Japanese version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Potential variables related to stress appraisal included demographic, individual and environmental factors. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify factors related to cognitive stress appraisal.ResultsParticipants’ mean±SD age was 42.8±11.7 years, and two-thirds were male. The mean±SD PSS score was 25.8±6.2. The multiple regression analysis controlled for age, sex and depression showed that those with poorer economic status (β=0.171, p<0.001), lower electronic health (eHealth) literacy (β=−0.113, p=0.012), higher traditional organisational climate (β=0.131, p=0.004) and lower perceived social support (β=−0.205, p<0.001) experienced significantly higher levels of negatively perceived stress.ConclusionsThe results show individual and environmental factors related to cognitive stress appraisal among workers. An effective strategy to improve mental health among workers may involve an interprofessional approach by public health nurses and health practitioners that includes enhanced self-coping skills using individual workers’ eHealth literacy, improvement of organisational climates in workplaces and community-based social support.