Integrating appraisal processes in the study demands-resources framework – a diary study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background and Objectives: Students face various demands that can lead to health complaints. Hindering demands appear to be especially harmful. Since the perception of demands differs between persons, their individual appraisal determines stress perception. However, individual appraisal processes are largely neglected in research. Therefore, this study builds on the study demands-resources model in examining the dynamics of students’ demand-appraisal processes and their effects on well-being. Design: During ten days in a four-week period, 247 students participated in a diary study. Methods: We analyzed our data via multilevel path analysis. Results: Our analyses revealed that the student’s appraisal of the same demands varied across days and depended on available resources, i.e., the received support quality on the respective day. Appraising demands as hindering was positively linked to the perception of stress on the same day. Daily perception of stress was positively linked to person-level strain and health complaints after four weeks. Conclusions: The results highlight the importance of assessing the individual appraisal of demands rather than pre-categorizing demands. Furthermore, our findings identify social support as a crucial resource in reducing hindering appraisal; hence, it should be included in student-focused stress-management interventions. Limitations and further implications are also discussed.