Brescia Psychology Undergraduate Honours Theses

Date of Award

Spring 4-8-2024

Program

Psychology

Supervisor

Dr. Anne Barnfield

Abstract

The main objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between the influential effects of participating in habitual exercise regimens and stress perceptions. Previous literature has provided a substantial amount of evidence supporting the physiological underpinnings relative to stress perceptions and the release of stress hormones such as cortisol. It was within this study’s interest to investigate both the physiological and cognitive components that contribute to the overall perceptions of stressors throughout an individual’s daily functioning. The sample included 52 undergraduate first-year psychology Brescia students, who were recruited via the SONA system in which after informed consent was collected, a Qualtrics link was given, granting access to the survey involving three questionnaires (i.e., Baecke Habitual Physical Activity Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale, Hassles and Uplifts Scale) in which the participant completed within one session (i.e., 30 minutes) and was granted one credit (Baecke, 1982; Cohen et al., 1983; DeLongis et al., 1988). It was predicted that individuals who exercised more frequently would demonstrate lower perceived stress levels, although this was not supported in the findings, it was supported, however, that increasing regular exercise routines enhanced perceptions of positive affect in daily functioning. Suggesting that although individuals may not be able to directly control the occurrence of stress perceptions, they can indirectly alter their occurrence by increasing the number of positive appraisals made in regards to their perceptions.

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