Current behaviour. The interviewees participated in a range of physical activities, such as, gardening, dancing, swimming and walking, with the majority visiting the gym at their local leisure or sports centre at least once a month. Overall all interviewees stated that they would like to increase their level of physical activity. The main reasons driving this change in behaviour was a need to become fitter and healthier. Associated with the need to become fitter was the need to lose weight and feel more positive towards their body image and shape. This was particularly emphasised by a young, UK male interviewee.
Current behaviour. Overall the majority of interviewees felt that they held a reasonably balanced diet but they all agreed that it could be improved and that they want to change their current eating behaviour. For the UK interviewees snacking between meals or in the evening was the main habit that negatively impacted on their diet. The main reasons for improving and/or changing their eating habits were to lose weight and consequently be healthier. In addition, one of the Finnish interviewees wanted to lose weight in order to improve their physical performance when training and playing sport.
Current behaviour. For all the interviewees the main problem with their sleep patterns was waking up in the middle of the night, typically between 3am and 4am in the morning and either not being able to return to sleep or having difficulty in returning to sleep. To help them return to sleep, these interviewees either listen to gentle music and/or the radio or read a book. These interviewees listen to music or read a book to help them relax and switch off mentally from what their minds are churning over. Quite often this activity will help as long as the music or book is not too stimulating. Although the causes for their disrupted sleep appears to be localised to that individual and often context driven, e.g. concern for family members and/or mental alertness often due to issues not resolved at work, the feelings and emotions experienced from prolonged lack or disrupted sleep are similar for all interviewees, such as, feelings of frustration, tiredness and less alert, not able to think quickly or clearly.
Current behaviour. It has been very difficult to generate a comprehensive and coherent picture of individuals’ experience of stress because the main causes and symptoms experienced vary from one person to the next, as well as level at which a person considers themselves as ‘stressed’ varies extremely. Therefore no ‘core’ themes have emerged across all the interviewees. There have been a few pockets of consistency between interviewees from the same country with regard to the main causes and symptoms of stress, current methods of managing stress, barriers to reducing stress levels and what could be changed to reduce their experience of stress. It is these areas that shall be reported upon. The main causes of stress for interviewees within the UK were: The amount and type of work coupled with project deadlines that needed to be adhered to within the workplace Self imposed stress due to being conscientious Caring for a member of the family who has a long-terms illness whilst also trying to perform at work (unique to one interviewee) The quantity and type of work, project deadlines and being conscientious were defined as key contributors to individuals’ stress levels. The main symptoms of stress as experienced by the interviewees are: Disrupted sleep patterns Lack of energy Eating comfort foods and/or not wanting to prepare and cook proper meals Irritability and clumsiness The UK interviewees manage their levels of stress by: Going for long walks, where they can mentality and physically escape from source and/or effects of the stress e.g. distract their brains, mentally switch off from work. Play sport, either partake in individual events e.g. running or as part of a team, e.g. five-a-side football. The mental and physical effort required to perform the sporting activities allows the individual to refocus their thoughts and ‘lose themselves’ in the activity.
