Stress and Coping Mediate Relationships between Contingent and Global Self‐Esteem and Alcohol‐Related Problems among College Drinkers

This study examined the hypotheses that contingent self‐esteem would be positively associated with alcohol‐related problems and that global self‐esteem would be negatively associated with such problems. It also examined the hypothesis that high stress and maladaptive coping would mediate these relationships. A sample of college students (n = 399) who were predominantly Hispanic (89%) completed measures of global and contingent self‐esteem; stress and coping; and alcohol‐related problems. Correlational and latent variable analyses indicated that contingent self‐esteem positively related to alcohol‐related problems, with maladaptive coping mediating this relationship. In contrast, global self‐esteem negatively related to such problems, a relationship that was also mediated by maladaptive coping and stress. Overall, the results highlight the potentially harmful consequences of contingent self‐worth and the adaptive nature of non‐contingent self‐esteem. They also demonstrate the important role that coping plays in mediating self‐esteem's associations with alcohol‐related problems. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mental Well‐Being Mediates the Relationship between Perceived Stress and Perceived Health

The association between stress and health has been well researched in the past; however, comparatively few mediators have been tested to understand the underlying mechanism. With increasing awareness on mental well‐being, this study evaluated the relationship between perceived stress and perceived health and examined mental well‐being as a mediator. Two‐hundred undergraduates aged 21 to 26 years completed the English Perceived Stress Scale, Health Status Questionnaire and Asian Mental Well‐Being Scale that assess perceived stress, perceived health and mental well‐being, respectively. Factor analysis and structural equation modelling on the Perceived Stress Scale replicated the reported two‐factor structure after excluding an insignificant item. Linear multiple regression analyses indicated that perceived stress was negatively associated with perceived health. Results showed that mental well‐being partially mediated the relationship between perceived stress and perceived health, although it is acknowledged that this association could be bidirectional. Findings from the present study suggest that future research could focus on reducing stress and improving mental well‐being to alleviate the effect of stress on health. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Variables related to stress‐related growth among Turkish breast cancer patients

The present study aimed to examine the validation of the use of the stress‐related growth scale and the variables related to stress‐related growth among Turkish breast cancer patients. Participants were 90 breast cancer patients. Consistent with the literature, results revealed that both social support and problem‐solving coping strategies related to higher levels of stress‐related growth. Furthermore, income level of the participants and depression scores were also found to be associated with stress‐related growth. From these variables, social support and problem‐solving coping were found to be positively associated with stress‐related growth whereas income level and depression scores were found to be negatively associated with stress‐related growth. These findings were discussed in the light of relevant literature. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Disadvantaged Family Background and Depression among Young Adults in the United States: The Roles of Chronic Stress and Self‐Esteem

Although several longitudinal studies have demonstrated that having a disadvantaged family background is a risk factor for subsequent symptoms of depression, few studies have examined the mediating mechanisms that explain this long‐term relationship. Thus, this study uses US national longitudinal data and integrates social stress theory with the life course perspective by focusing on two mediating mechanisms—the chronic stress of poverty and self‐esteem during the transition to adulthood. Results reveal that self‐esteem largely mediates the inverse relationship between parental education and levels of depressive symptoms in young adulthood. However, the inverse relationship between parental occupational prestige and depressive symptoms among young adults is not mediated by self‐esteem, but rather long durations of poverty across 16 years. Overall, these findings suggest that different components of family socioeconomic status can leave a lasting imprint on mental health via the self‐concept and the chronic stress of poverty throughout the journey to adulthood. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stress‐related growth: pre‐intervention correlates and change following a resilience intervention

Correlates of stress‐related growth and the effectiveness of a resilience intervention to enhance stress‐related growth were examined. College students were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 31) and waiting list control (n = 33) groups. The intervention group received the psychoeducational intervention, Transforming Lives Through Resilience Education, in four weekly 2‐hour sessions. Measures of personal, environmental and stressor characteristics, coping strategies, adjustment and stress‐related growth were assessed. Multiple regressions revealed that pre‐intervention self‐esteem, self‐leadership, hopeful coping and depressive symptoms significantly related to pre‐intervention growth. A repeated measures analysis of variance yielded a significant group by time interaction for total growth; the intervention group showed greater increases in growth pre‐ to post‐intervention compared with the control group. Our results supported the relationships of self‐esteem and adaptive coping strategies to stress‐related growth and introduce a new correlate of growth, self‐leadership, to the literature. In addition, our results highlighted the complex role depressive symptoms may play in relation to growth, indicating that depressive symptoms might decrease one's inner resources while simultaneously serving as a catalyst for growth. Further, the findings supported the resilience intervention as a promising approach to facilitate growth. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The association between stress,self‐esteem and childhood acceptance in nursing and pharmacy students: a comparative cross‐cultural analysis

The proposition that stress level is affected by self‐esteem development, for which acceptance from others in childhood is a key issue, was tested in two health care professions. The sample was 131 from nursing studies and 91 from pharmacy studies at a university in London, and 344 from nursing and 976 from pharmacy in Tokyo. Levels of stress were measured with the Perceived Stress Scale, self‐esteem with the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale and childhood acceptance with the Parental Nurturance Scale. The data were analysed in terms of levels of and causal path between stress, self‐esteem and childhood acceptance. The proposed mechanism was supported among the nursing and pharmacy students in both British and Japanese cultures. The sample was also found to be substantially high on stress and low on self‐esteem and childhood acceptance. The results suggested that those entering the health care profession, such as nursing and pharmacy, have some additional vulnerability to stress compared with the general population. Enhancing self‐esteem was strongly recommended in stress management for health care professions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Self‐esteem,stress and cigarette smoking in adolescents

Both high stress and low self‐esteem have been consistently, though independently, reported to relate to aspects of adolescent smoking behaviour. Recent work on self‐esteem, however, suggests that adequate provision of this attribute may protect the individual adolescent from unpleasant dysphoric or harmful behavioural states. In line with this suggestion, the present study sought to extend this to the area of adolescent smoking behaviour. While independent associations were confirmed there was not strong support for a protective effect of self‐esteem on adolescent smoking in the face of stressor exposure. A modest sex effect was evident but not of sufficient magnitude to allow firm conclusions. Nonetheless, the results were tempting enough to indicate further investigation. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Job Burnout,Work Engagement and Self‐reported Treatment for Health Conditions in South Africa

The purpose of the study being reported here was to investigate the relationship of job burnout and work engagement with self‐reported received treatment for health conditions (cardiovascular condition, high cholesterol, depression, diabetes, hypertension and irritable bowel syndrome), while controlling for age, gender, smoking and alcohol use. The sample comprised 7895 employees from a broad range of economic sectors in the South African working population. A cross‐sectional survey design was used for the study. Structural equation modelling methods were implemented with a weighted least squares approach. The results showed that job burnout had a positive relationship with self‐reported received treatment for depression, diabetes, hypertension and irritable bowel syndrome. Work engagement did not have any significant negative or positive relationships with the treatment for these health conditions. The results of this study make stakeholders aware of the relationship between job burnout, work engagement and self‐reported treatment for health conditions. Evidence for increased reporting of treatment for ill‐health conditions due to burnout was found. Therefore, attempts should be made to manage job burnout to prevent ill‐health outcomes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cortisol variability and self‐reports in the measurement of work‐related stress

We examined whether a high cortisol awakening response (CAR) and low cortisol decline over the day (CDD) are related to self‐reported work stress and well‐being, and whether there are gender differences in these relationships. Three hundred eighty‐three working men and women responded to a survey measuring job stress factors, mastery at work, symptoms and well‐being. Salivary cortisol was sampled at awakening, after 45 min and at 21:00, from which the variables CAR and CDD were defined. A high CAR was associated with lower perceived job control and work mastery, and poorer well‐being. Low CDD was associated only with higher job demands, but the self‐report scores showed a number of interactions between cortisol group and gender. Among women, those showing a low CDD, compared with those with a higher CDD, had more favourable scores on a number of job stress factors and symptom load. In contrast, among men, a similar comparison showed those with low CDD to have poorer scores on job stress factors and symptom load. We conclude that individuals displaying high CAR or low CDD differ from those not displaying these cortisol profiles in self‐report of work stress and well‐being, and that gender differences appear in these relationships. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Psychological well‐being and the role of perceived primal threat: evidence from two studies in patient and healthy samples

In two studies we examined the interrelations of threats against four basic human needs (i.e. self‐preservation, social integration, personal identity and growth, and personal worldview), as well as their role in the stress process. These threats are proposed to represent the aspects of a common factor referred to as perceived primal threat (PPT). In the first study, 108 hospitalized patients completed questionnaires about PPT, psychological symptoms and illness threat. In the second study, 100 healthy individuals completed questionnaires about PPT, psychological symptoms, life satisfaction, social support, self‐efficacy and the perceived stressfulness of a recent negative condition. According to the results of both studies, the four PPT aspects were strongly intercorrelated; loaded on a higher order common factor; were associated with psychological symptoms, life satisfaction and stress‐related evaluations (i.e. stressfulness of the condition, self‐efficacy, social support) and mediated the relation of stress‐related evaluations to psychological symptoms in an equivalent way. These findings are in line with our hypotheses, and provide support to the role of PPT in the stress process. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Perceived stress,psychological well‐being and the activity of neutrophils in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery

This study explored relationships, before and after surgery, between perceived stress and the activity of white‐blood cells (neutrophils) in 82 patients undergoing heart surgery involving cardiopulmonary bypass surgery (CPB). On the evening before surgery and at follow‐up, 6‐weeks after discharge, patients completed self‐administered standard psychological measures. Small peripheral blood samples were taken, from which neutrophil activity was quantified using nitro‐blue tetrazolium (NBT) and luminol‐dependant chemiluminescence (phagocytic capacity). There were consistent, statistically significant associations between stress and percentageNBT cells at baseline and at follow‐up. Regression analysis showed that perceived stress was a predictor of neutrophil activity at follow‐up suggesting that higher levels of stress are associated with higher levels of activity. Results from the phagocytic capacity data support and strengthen the NBT findings; in response to stimuli the phagocytic capacity of the neutrophils is reduced at baseline (high stress) and increased at follow‐up (lower stress). Significant decreases were found on perceived stress, anxiety, depression, negative affect and health‐related stress at follow‐up. Patients' self‐efficacy was high at baseline and remained high throughout the study. Results highlighted a consistent, significant relationship between perceived stress and the ‘activity’ of neutrophils. The implications of this finding are worthy of exploration given that stress‐activated neutrophils may adversely influence health outcomes. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Converging evidence that subliminal evaluative conditioning does not affect self‐esteem or cardiovascular activity

Self‐esteem moderates the relationship between stress and (cardiovascular) health, with low self‐esteem potentially exacerbating the impact of stressors. Boosting self‐esteem may therefore help to buffer against stress. Subliminal evaluative conditioning (SEC), which subliminally couples self‐words with positive words, has previously been successfully used to boost self‐esteem, but the existing studies are in need of replication. In this article, we aimed to replicate and extend previous SEC studies. The first 2 experiments simultaneously examined whether SEC increased self‐esteem (Experiment 1, n = 84) and reduced cardiovascular reactivity to a stressor in high worriers (Experiment 2, n = 77). On the basis of these results, the 3rd experiment was set up to examine whether an adjusted personalized SEC task increased self‐esteem and reduced cardiac activity in high worriers (n = 81). Across the 3 experiments, no effects were found of SEC on implicit or explicit self‐esteem or affect or on cardiovascular (re)activity compared to a control condition in which the self was coupled with neutral words. The results do not support the use of the subliminal intervention in its current format. As stress is highly prevalent, future studies should focus on developing other cost‐effective and evidence‐based interventions.     

Perceived sources of occupational stress among Chinese off‐shore oil installation workers

To explore the perceived sources of occupational stress and their relative importance among Chinese off‐shore oil installation workers, we used a self‐administered questionnaire to study 51 stressors associated with off‐shore oil work among 561 Chinese workers in a state‐owned oil company. The mean scores of 51 individual stressors were calculated and ranked. Factor analysis was used to identify nine sources of stress which were also ranked according to their standard mean scores. The top four sources of stress were, in descending order of importance: ‘physical environment of the workplace’, ‘safety’, ‘interface between job and family/social life’ and ‘career and achievement’. The perceived sources of work stress in Chinese workers were different from those reported in earlier studies on UK off‐shore oil workers. These differences might be attributable to socio‐cultural factors or possibly, changes in perception to stress over time. A better understanding of the sources of stress is essential to promote the physical and mental health of off‐shore oil workers. More cross‐cultural comparative studies would be useful in elucidating the influence of socio‐cultural and environmental factors on stress perception. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Self‐esteem,personality and post traumatic stress symptoms following the dissolution of a dating relationship

The present study aimed to ascertain the extent to which people, following the dissolution of a dating relationship, experienced post traumatic stress symptoms. It also aimed to investigate the relationship between post traumatic stress and self‐esteem and personality. The hypotheses were that there would be a severe degree of post traumatic stress symptoms experienced by the present samples, and that the personality factor, in particular, neuroticism, and low self‐esteem would be associated with the samples' post traumatic stress symptoms. Sixty heterosexual subjects who had experienced a romantic relationship dissolution over the past 24 months were recruited for the study. They were interviewed with the Impact of Event Scale (IES), the General Health Questionnaire‐28 (GHQ‐28), the Self‐Esteem Rating Scale (SERS) and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire‐R Short Scale (EPQ‐R). The results showed that 72 per cent of the subjects scored at or above the high IES symptom cut‐off. Forty‐three per cent scored above the cut‐off of the GHQ‐28. Significant correlations were found between the impact of the dissolution and general health. The present subjects were significantly less extroverted and neurotic than the standardized samples. Stepwise regression analyses showed that negative self‐esteem significantly predicted avoidance and the total general health, and that neuroticism significantly predicted the total impact of the dissolution. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Psychometric Properties of the Work Well Index: A Short Questionnaire for Work‐Related Stress

The aim of this study was to test the psychometric properties of a short questionnaire for work‐related stress entitled Work Well index (WWi) and its interaction with different variables of self‐reported health. An online survey was conducted in a sample of 1,218 employees (51% female) in four countries of an international insurance company. Internal consistency reliability, factorial validity, convergent validity and criterion validity of the 10‐item WWi were analyzed. Good internal consistency reliability of the WWi was obtained (Cronbach's α coefficient = 0.85). Confirmatory factor analysis showed a satisfactory model fit of the data (AGFI = 0.92). The WWi was highly correlated to conceptually close constructs such as demand–control, effort–reward imbalance and workplace social capital (p < 0.001). Moreover, the 10‐item WWi was significantly (p < 0.001) associated with elevated risk of self‐rated health, absenteeism, presenteeism and depression (odds ratio 1.63, 1.36, 2.08, 2.95, respectively). We conclude that this short questionnaire is a reliable and valid instrument measuring psychosocial stress at work. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cross‐sectional and Longitudinal Relationships between Perceived Stress and C‐reactive Protein in Men and Women

To date, an examination of the longitudinal relationship between perceived stress and C‐reactive protein (CRP) is limited. We explored the relationship between perceived stress and CRP concurrently and across 2 and 4 years in 383 men and women. Multiple linear regressions examined the cross‐sectional and longitudinal relationships between baseline stress and counter‐stress scores with CRP at baseline, 2 years after baseline and 4 years after baseline, while controlling for covariates (age, smoking status, anti‐inflammatory use, oral contraceptive use, physical activity, menopausal status, years since onset of menopause, post‐menopausal hormone use and body mass index). Results indicate that stress and counter‐stress were not related to CRP in either men or women at study baseline or 2 years later. Across a 4‐year time frame, higher stress values were related to higher CRP values in women, but not men. Counter‐stress was not related to CRP values in men or women across the 4 years. This study highlights the importance of examining the cross‐sectional and longitudinal relationship between perceived stress and inflammation separately in men and women. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Path Analysis of Acculturative Stress Components and Their Relationship with Depression Among International Students in China

Acculturative stress prevents international students from adapting to the host culture, increasing their risk for depression. International students in China are a growing and at‐risk population for acculturative stress and depression. With data from the International Student Health and Behaviour Survey (Yu et al., 2014a ) in China, seven acculturative stress components were detected in a previous study (Yu et al., 2014a ), including a central component (self‐confidence), three distal components (value conflict, identity threat and rejection) and three proximal components (poor cultural competence, opportunity deprivation and homesickness). The current study extended the previous study to investigate the relationship between these components and depression with data also from International Student Health and Behaviour Survey. Participants were 567 students (59% male, 40.4% African, mean age = 22.75, SD = 4.11) recruited in Wuhan, China. The sample scored high on the Acculturative Stress Scale for International Students (M = 92.81, SD = 23.93) and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale (M = 0.97, SD = 0.53). Acculturative stress was positively associated with depression; the association between the three distal stress components and depression was fully mediated through self‐confidence, while the three proximal components had a direct effect and a self‐confidence‐mediated indirect effect. These findings extended the value of the previous study, highlighted the central role of self‐confidence in understanding acculturative stress and depression and provided new data supporting more effective counselling for international students in China. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Skin Barrier Recovery is not Associated with Self‐Perceived Stress

The primary aim of the current study was to examine the association between self‐perceived stress and skin‐barrier recovery. From an initial sample of 410 students, 19 high‐stress and 12 low‐stress Hispanic women completed a behavioural survey and were assessed for recovery of skin barrier following a tape‐stripping procedure. No association was found between self‐perceived stress and skin barrier recovery at either the 30‐min or 3.15‐h recovery period. Supplemental analysis showed a positive correlation between skin barrier recovery and self‐reported sleep quantity at both recovery periods. Barrier repair reflects a single, minimally invasive, measure of wound healing; thus, our findings do not necessarily contradict the notion that stress measures can be used to predict wound healing more broadly defined. Supplemental analysis demonstrated an intriguing relationship between barrier recovery and the number of hours slept, but these findings are considered tentative and will require replication with more rigorous measures of sleep quantity and quality. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimism,self‐efficacy and information processing of threat‐ and well‐being‐related stimuli

The purpose of this study was to examine whether information bias associated with dispositional optimism and generalized self‐efficacy can account for the link between general expectations and well‐being. A modified Stroop task was used in this study. Our hypothesis was that individuals with high self‐efficacy expectations or dispositional optimism would show greater bias towards well‐being‐related stimuli, whereas individuals with low self‐efficacy or optimism would exhibit bias towards threat‐related stimuli. A secondary hypothesis was that both self‐efficacy and optimism would act as mediators of the latency, perceived distress relationship. One hundred and two undergraduate students participated in the study. After controlling for daily mood, the results showed that individuals high in optimism and self‐efficacy showed greater informational bias towards well‐being‐related stimuli. The low self‐efficacy group exhibited greater bias towards threat‐related stimuli. Also, consistent with our hypothesis, optimism and self‐efficacy mediated the relationship between the Stroop colour‐naming latencies and perceived distress. These findings suggest that associations, which refer to automatic processes, may form an additional way through which expectations are related to functioning. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Relationship Between Stress and Body Satisfaction in Female and Male Adolescents

This study investigated the relationship between stress and body satisfaction in adolescence. A sample consisting of 515 adolescents aged 12–16 years completed a series of self‐report questionnaires assessing general and specific aspects of adolescent stress, body satisfaction and the psychological constructs of self‐esteem, depressive symptoms and body importance. Results revealed a significant association between higher body dissatisfaction and higher ratings of peer stress, lower self‐esteem and greater body importance for female and male adolescents. These findings suggest that adolescent stress relates to satisfaction with the body and that this stress is specifically focused on the peer environment for both genders during adolescence. This may have implications for intervention programmes aimed at improving body satisfaction, suggesting that the inclusion of stress management training in these programmes could specifically focus on difficulties within the peer domain. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.