title: Associations between psychological stress, eating, physical activity, sedentary behaviours and body weight among women: a longitudinal study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is an increased risk of obesity amongst socioeconomically disadvantaged populations and emerging evidence suggests that psychological stress may be a key factor in this relationship. This paper reports the results of cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of relationships between perceived stress, weight and weight-related behaviours in a cohort of socioeconomically disadvantaged women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used baseline and follow-up self-report survey data from the Resilience for Eating and Activity Despite Inequality study, comprising a cohort of 1382 women aged 18 to 46 years from 80 of the most socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Victoria, Australia. Women reported their height (baseline only), weight, sociodemographic characteristics, perceived stress, leisure-time physical activity, sedentary and dietary behaviours at baseline and three-year follow-up. Linear and multinomial logistic regression were used to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between stress (predictor) and weight, and weight-related behaviours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher perceived stress in women was associated with a higher BMI, and to increased odds of being obese in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations were found between stress and both less leisure-time physical activity, and more frequent fast food consumption. Longitudinal associations were also found between stress and increased television viewing time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study contributes to the literature related to the effects of stress on weight and weight-related behaviours. The findings suggest that higher stress levels could contribute to obesity risk in women. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms underlying these associations. However, interventions that incorporate stress management techniques might help to prevent rising obesity rates among socioeconomically disadvantaged women.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia. kylie.ball@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mouchacca
authors.forename: Gavin R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: Kylie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ball
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011203:Poverty; D018570:Risk Assessment; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014739:Victoria; D035862:Vulnerable Populations; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult
references.citation: Int J Obes (Lond). 2006 Mar;30(3):520-7
references.pmid: 16302014
references.citation: Eat Behav. 2011 Aug;12(3):188-91
references.pmid: 21741016
references.citation: Soc Sci Med. 2005 May;60(9):1987-2010
references.pmid: 15743649
references.citation: Diabetologia. 1997 Nov;40(11):1341-9
references.pmid: 9389428
references.citation: Psychol Bull. 1989 Mar;105(2):260-75
references.pmid: 2648443
references.citation: J Acad Nutr Diet. 2012 Apr;112(4):518-26
references.pmid: 22709702
references.citation: Physiol Behav. 2007 Jul 24;91(4):449-58
references.pmid: 17543357
references.citation: Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1997 Apr;21(4):304-8
references.pmid: 9130028
references.citation: Obes Rev. 2011 May;12(5):e438-53
references.pmid: 21414128
references.citation: Obes Rev. 2003 Nov;4(4):187-94
references.pmid: 14649369
references.citation: Int J Obes (Lond). 2006 Mar;30(3):528-33
references.pmid: 16247505
references.citation: Am J Epidemiol. 2009 Jul 15;170(2):181-92
references.pmid: 19465744
references.citation: Int J Obes (Lond). 2006 Feb;30(2):281-7
references.pmid: 16331302
references.citation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Sep 30;100(20):11696-701
references.pmid: 12975524
references.citation: BMC Fam Pract. 2004 Sep 20;5:20
references.pmid: 15380026
references.citation: Soc Sci Med. 2009 Feb;68(4):593-600
references.pmid: 19095339
references.citation: J Am Coll Health. 2004 Jul-Aug;53(1):28-34
references.pmid: 15266727
references.citation: J Psychosom Res. 1996 Aug;41(2):171-80
references.pmid: 8887830
references.citation: Ann Behav Med. 2001 Summer;23(3):177-85
references.pmid: 11495218
references.citation: J Health Soc Behav. 1983 Dec;24(4):385-96
references.pmid: 6668417
references.citation: J Am Diet Assoc. 2005 Jun;105(6):916-26
references.pmid: 15942541
references.citation: Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003 Aug;35(8):1381-95
references.pmid: 12900694
references.citation: Physiol Behav. 2006 Aug 30;89(1):53-61
references.pmid: 16545403
references.citation: Prev Med. 2008 Feb;46(2):99-110
references.pmid: 17919713
references.citation: Health Psychol. 2003 Nov;22(6):638-42
references.pmid: 14640862
references.citation: J Pediatr. 2008 Dec;153(6):839-44
references.pmid: 18657829
references.citation: Int J Behav Med. 2003;10(2):125-42
references.pmid: 12763706
references.citation: Obesity (Silver Spring). 2011 Apr;19(4):771-8
references.pmid: 20948519
references.citation: Public Health Nutr. 2004 May;7(3):433-41
references.pmid: 15153274
references.citation: J Epidemiol Community Health. 1981 Dec;35(4):293-6
references.pmid: 6461711
references.citation: Aust N Z J Public Health. 2000 Dec;24(6):576-83
references.pmid: 11215004
references.citation: J Occup Environ Med. 2000 Jan;42(1):40-6
references.pmid: 10652687
references.citation: Aust N Z J Public Health. 2010 Dec;34(6):620-3
references.pmid: 21134066
references.citation: Public Health Nutr. 2003 May;6(3):269-81
references.pmid: 12740076
references.citation: Obesity (Silver Spring). 2009 Dec;17(12):2155-61
references.pmid: 19521353
references.citation: Ann Epidemiol. 2007 Sep;17(9):643-53
references.pmid: 17553702
references.citation: Int J Obes (Lond). 2006 Jul;30(7):1091-3
references.pmid: 16801946
references.citation: Scand J Work Environ Health. 2011 Jan;37(1):45-53
references.pmid: 20835689
references.citation: Soc Sci Med. 2012 Aug;75(3):496-504
references.pmid: 22591825
references.citation: Int J Obes (Lond). 2005 Feb;29(2):244-50
references.pmid: 15654361
references.citation: World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser. 2000;894:i-xii, 1-253
references.pmid: 11234459
references.citation: Int J Obes (Lond). 2009 Nov;33(11):1289-98
references.pmid: 19721449
references.citation: Obes Rev. 2005 Feb;6(1):67-85
references.pmid: 15655039
references.citation: Obes Res. 2000 Sep;8(6):445-50
references.pmid: 11011911
references.citation: Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2003 Apr;27(4):514-21
references.pmid: 12664085
references.citation: Int J Obes (Lond). 2012 Jun;36(6):855-65
references.pmid: 21931326
references.citation: Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2002 Dec;26(12):1570-8
references.pmid: 12461673