Abstract:
Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between eating behaviours and work-related stress among working-adults residing at Rasah Kemayan, Malaysia.
Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted among 133 working-adults at the residential area of Rasah Kemayan to determine the relationship between eating behaviour and work-related stress and identify the coping strategies used by the respondents when they are stressed. The study was conducted between September to November 2016. Systematic sampling was carried out to select the houses and from each house a working-adults who met the selection criteria was selected for this study. The Eating Behaviour of the subjects was assessed using Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ). The Job Content Questionnaire was used to determine the work-related stress among the employees. The Brief Cope Inventory Questionnaire (BCI) survey instruments were used to determine the coping skills of the subjects.
Results: The prevalence of work-related stress among the working population in Rasah Kemayan is 25.6%. Factors that were statistically significantly associated with work-related stress are transport mode; shared vehicle (13.5%), self-driven vehicle (12.0%) and emotional eating (21.8%). Other factors had no association with Work-related stress. As for coping, the strategies that were used frequently by the respondents are Behavioural Disengagement, Self-Blame, and Positive Reframing with median of 4.
Conclusion: These findings bear potential implications in preventing work-related stress by applying suitable coping strategy to combat of work-related stress which may alter their eating behaviour. There is need for working adults to come up with interventions to manage stress and healthy eating at the work place for better health.
Keywords: Work-related stress, eating behaviour, coping skills
