Self-care practices in decision-making: How nutrition and habits may affect decision in business

Georgios Lountzis

doi:10.29333/ejeph/14128

Full Text (PDF)

Georgios Lountzis ¹ ^*

More Detail

¹ Department of Economics and Regional Development, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens, GREECE^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

Decision-making process (DMP), our everyday most frequent action, has attracted the attention of a wide range of disciplines aiming to identify and analyze its determinants, encompassing specific steps. This paper intends to investigate whether nutrition and habits of managers/employees–via hormone levels–might statistically influence DMP in the business field. Some groups of food could encourage the secretion of specific hormones, which in turn influence the brain’s function that may in turn affect humans’ behavior and emotional status, and hence, their decision. To explore the set hypothesis, fieldwork was undertaken to an extensive random sample, from Greek companies/organizations, using appropriately designed questionnaire to select and statistically analyze related quantitative and qualitative information. The questionnaire was distributed to the employees/managers (n=242) of Greek companies. The findings confirm this hypothesis (statistical significance, p<0.05) and indicate that DMP is influenced by nutrition and habits in interaction with body mass index.

Keywords

lifestyle
nutrition
decision-making
self-care
business

License

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EUR J ENV PUBLIC HLT, Volume 8, Issue 1, 2024, Article No: em0152

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejeph/14128

Publication date: 16 Jan 2024

Article Views: 1256

Article Downloads: 705

Open Access References How to cite this article

References

Becker B, Gerhart B. The impact of human resource management on organizational performance: Progress and prospects. Acad Manag J. 1996;39(4):779-801. https://doi.org/10.2307/256712
Johnson RR. Officer attitudes and management influences on police work productivity. Am J Crim Justice. 2011;36(4): 293-306. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-010-9090-2
Noe RA. Is career management related to employee development and performance? J Organ Behav. 1996;17(2):119-33. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1379(199603)17:2<119::AID-JOB736>3.0.CO;2-O
Kahneman D. Thinking fast ans slow. London (UK): Penguin Books Ltd.; 2012.
Camerer C, Loewenstein G, Prelec D. Neuroeconomics: How neuroscience can inform economics. J Econ Lit. 2005; XLIII:9-64. https://doi.org/10.1257/0022051053737843
Kafatos A, Manios Y, Markatji I, et al. Regional, demographic and national influences on attitudes and beliefs with regard to physical activity, body weight and health in a nationally representative sample in the European Union. Public Health Nutr. 1999;2(1a):87-95. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1368980099000130 PMid:10933628
Jagielski A, Brown A, Hosseini-Araghi M, Neil Thomas G, Taheri S. Quality of life and mental health in extreme obesity. A study of individuals attending a specialist weight management service. Appetite. 2015;87:393. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2014.12.168
Zerva S, Zerdila M. Obesity: A chronic disease. The Step of Asclepius; 2009.
Dishman RK, Renner KJ, White-Welkley JE, Burke KA, Bunell BN. Treadmill exercise training augments brain norepinephrine response to familiar and novel stress. Brain Res Bull. 2000;52(5):337-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0361-9230(00)00271-9 PMid:10922511
Greiwe JS, Hickner RC, Shah SD, Cryer PE, Holloszy JO. Norepinephrine response to exercise at the same relative intensity before and after endurance exercise training. J Apl Physiol. 1999;86(2):531-5. https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1999.86.2.531 PMid:9931187
Harber VJ, Sutton JR. Endorphins and exercise. Sports Med. 1984;1:154-71. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-198401020-00004 PMid:6091217
Krawczynski M, Olszewski H. Psychological well-being associated with a physical activity programme for persons over 60 years old. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2000;1(1):57-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1469-0292(00)00004-2
Wegner M, Helmich I, Machado S, Nardi AE, Arias-Carrion O, Budde E. The effects of exercise on anxiety and depression disorders: Review of meta-analyses and neurobiological mechanisms. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2015;13(6):1002-14. https://doi.org/10.2174/1871527313666140612102841 PMid:24923346
Lunenburg FC. The decision making process. Natl Forum Educ Adm Superv J. 2010;27(4):1-13.
Saaty T. Decision making with the analytic hierarchy process. Int J Serv Sci. 2008;1(1):83-98. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJSSCI.2008.017590
Molnar C, Gair J. Concepts of biology. B.C. Open Textbook Project; 2013.
Aronson D. Cortisol–Its role in stress, inflammation, and indications for diet therapy. Today’s Dietit. 2009;11(11):38.
Susman EJ, Inoff-Germain G, Nottelmann ED, Loriaux D, Cutler Jr GB, Chrousos GP. Hormones, emotional dispositions, and aggressive attributes in young adolescents. Child Dev. 1987;58(4):1114-34. https://doi.org/10.2307/1130551 PMid:3608660
Wirth MM, Gaffey AE. Hormones and emotion: Stress and beyond. In: Robinson M, Watkins E, Harmon-Jones E, editors. Handbook of cognition and emotion. The Guilford Press; 2013. p. 63-94.
Kaimal G, Ray K, Muniz J. Reduction of cortisol levels and participants’ responses following art making. J Am Art Ther Assoc. 2016;33(2):74-80. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2016.1166832 PMid:27695158 PMCid:PMC5004743
Björntorp P, Rosmond R. Obesity and cortisol. Nutr. 2000;16(10):924-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0899-9007(00)00422-6 PMid:11054598
Fraser R, Ingram MC, Anderson NH, Morrison C, Davies E, Connell JM. Cortisol effects on body mass, blood pressure, and cholesterol in the general population. Hypertension. 1999;33(6):1364-8. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.HYP.33.6.1364 PMid:10373217
Grynderup MB, Kolstad HA, Mikkelsen S, et al. A two-year follow-up study of salivary cortisol concentration and the risk of depression. Psychoneuroendocrinol. 2013;38(10): 2042-50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.03.013 PMid:23597874
Singh R, Goyal M, Tiwari S, Ghildiyal A, Nattu SM, Das S. Effect of examination stress on mood, performance and cortisol levels in medical studies. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2012;56(1):48-55.
Andrews RC, Herlihy O, Livingstone DE, Andrew R, Walker BR. Abnormal cortisol metabolism and tissue sensitivity to cortisol in patients with glucose intolerance. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002;87(12):5587-93. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2002-02004 PMid:12466357
Epel ES, McEwen B, Seeman T, et al. Stress and body shape: Stress-induced cortisol secretion is consistently greater among women with central fat. Psychosom Med. 2000; 62:623-32. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006842-200009000-00005 PMid:11020091
Kudielka BM, Hellhammer DH, Wüst S. Why do we respond so differently? Reviewing determinants of human salivary cortisol responses to challenge. Psychoneuroendocrinol. 2009;34(1):2-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2008.10.004 PMid:19041187
Sher L. Type D personality: The heart, stress, and cortisol. QJM: Int J Med. 2005;98(5):323-9. https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hci064 PMid:15820973
Holt-Lunstad J, Birmingham W, Light KC. Influence of a “warm touch” support enhancement intervention among married couples on ambulatory blood pressure, oxytocin, alpha amylase, and cortisol. Psychosom Med. 2008;70(9): 976-85. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0b013e318187aef7 PMid:18842740
Anninou V. How to activate the 4 main neurotransmitters of your brain, which affect your happiness? Eductor.gr; 2021.
Cherney K. 8 testosterone-boosting foods. Healthline.com; 2020.
Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publishing: Harvard Medical School. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/drugs-and-medications/testosterone--what-it-does-and-doesnt-do (Accessed: 26 November 2023).
Lee D, Tajar A, Pye SR, etal. Association of hypogonadism with vitamin D status: The European male ageing study. Eur J Endocrinol. 2012;166(1):77-85. https://doi.org/10.1530/EJE-11-0743 PMid:22048968
Ochner C, Geliebter A, Bauer C, Hashim S. Effects of strength and aerobic training on metabolic syndrome, insulin, and testosterone levels in dieting obese subjects. Appetite. 2007;49(1):318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2007.03.150
Wehr E, Pilz S, Boehm B, März W, Obermayer-Pietsch B. Association of vitamin D status with serum androgen levels in men. Clin Endocrinol. 2010;73(2):243-8. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2265.2009.03777.x PMid:20050857
Carson DS, Garner JP, Hyde SA, et al. Arginine vasopressin is a blood-based biomarker of social functioning in children with autism. PLoS One. 2015;10(7):e0132224. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0132224 PMid:26200852 PMCid:PMC4511760
Newsome J. Vasopressin: Deficiency, excess and the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion. Nephron. 1979;23:125-9. https://doi.org/10.1159/000181621 PMid:108606
Joo K, Jeon U, Kim G-H, et al. Antidiuretic action of oxytocin is associated with increased urinary excretion of aquaporin-2. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2004;19(10):2480-6. https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfh413 PMid:15280526
Li C, Wang W, Summer SN, et al. Molecular mechanisms of antidiuretic effect of oxytocin. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2008; 19(2):225-32. https://doi.org/10.1681/ASN.2007010029 PMid:18057218 PMCid:PMC2396735
Armstrong LE. Caffeine, body fluid-electrolyte balance, and exercise performance. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2002;12:189-206. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.12.2.189 PMid:12187618
Armstrong LE, Pumerantz AC, Roti MW, et al. Fluid, electrolyte, and renal indices of hydration during 11 days of controlled caffeine consumption. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2005;15(3):252-65. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.15.3.252 PMid:16131696
Grandjean AC, Reimers KJ, Bannick KE, Haven MC. The effect of caffeinated, non-caffeinated, caloric and non-caloric beverages on hydration. J Am Coll Nutr. 2000;19(5): 591-600. https://doi.org/10.1080/07315724.2000.10718956 PMid:11022872
Parlesak A, Pohl C, Bode J, Bode C. Water metabolism in rats subjected to chronic alcohol administration. Nephron Physiol. 2004;97(1):9-15. https://doi.org/10.1159/000077597 PMid:15153746
Di Renzo G, Giardina I, Clerici G, Brillo E, Gerli S. Progesterone in normal and pathological pregnacy. Horm Mol Biol Clin Invest. 2016;27(1):35-48. https://doi.org/10.1515/hmbci-2016-0038 PMid:27662646
Gotter A. Low progesterone: Complications, causes, and more. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/low-progesterone (Accessed: 26 November 2023).
Targonskaya A. Low progesterone symptoms, causes, and what you can do about it. Available at: https://flo.health/menstrual-cycle/health/symptoms-and-diseases/low-progesterone-symptoms (Accessed: 26 November 2023).
Brighten DJ. 9 ways to improve low progesterone & boost fertility. drbrighten.com; 2016.
Egwurugwu JN, Ifedi CU, Uchefuna RC, Ezeokafor EN, Alagwu EA. Effects of zinc on male sex hormones and semen quality in rats. Niger J Physiol Sci. 2013;28(1):17-22.
Mayo JL. A Natural approach to menopause. Appl Nutr Sci Rep. 1997;5(7).
Berg JM, Tymoczkio JL. Biochemistry. New York (NY): W H Freeman; 2002.
Voet D, Voet J. Biochemistry. New York (NY): Wiley; 2010.
NIDDK. Hypoglycaemia. National Insitute of Health; 2008. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-informa tion/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/low-blood-glucose-hypoglycemia (Accessed: 26 November 2023).
Galan N. What to know about blood sugar spikes. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317215 (Accessed: 26 November 2023).
Gray JR, Thompson PM. Neurobiology of intelligence: science and ethics. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2004;5:471-82. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn1405 PMid:15152197
Lenroot RK, Giedd JN. The changing impact of genes and environment on brain development during childhood and adolescence: Initial findings from a neuroimaging study of pediatric twins. Dev Psychopathol. 2008;20(4):1161-75. https://10.1017/S0954579408000552 PMid:18838036 PMCid:PMC2892674
Baker LA. The biology of relationships: What behavioral genetics tells us about interactions among family members. De Paul Law Rev. 2007;56(3):837-46.
Depue RA. Neurobiological factors in personality and depression. Eur J Pers. 1995;9:413-39. https://doi.org/10.1177/070674370805300103 PMid:18286867
McEwen BS. Hormones and behavior and the integration of brain-body science. Horm Behav. 2020;119:104619. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.104619 PMid:31790663
Farhud DD. Impacy of lifestyle on health. Iran J Public Health. 2015;44(11):1442-4.
Dietrich C. Decision making: Factors that influence decision making, heuristics used, and decision outcomes. Inq J. 2010;2(2).
Milkman KL, Chugh D, Bazerman MH. How can decision making be improved? Perspect Psychol Sci. 2009;4(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6924.2009.0114 PMid:26158985
Basten U, Biele G, Heekeren H, Fiebach C. How the brain integrates costs and benefits during decision making. PNAS. 2010;107(50):21767-72. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0908104107 PMid:21118983 PMCid:PMC3003102
Rorie A, Newsome W. A general mechanism for decision-making in the human brain? Trends Cogn Sci. 2005;9(2):41-3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2004.12.007 PMid:15668095
de Martino B, Kumaran D, Seymour B, Dolan R. Frames, biases, and rational decision-making in the human brain. Sci. 2006;313(5787):684-7. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1128356 PMid:16888142 PMCid:PMC2631940
Derntl B, Pintzinger N, Kryspin-Exner I, Schöpf V. The impact of sex hormone concentrations on decision-making in females and males. Front Neirosci. 2014;8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2014.00352 PMid:25414632 PMCid:PMC4220662
Carney D, Mason M. Decision making and testosterone: When the ends justify the means. J Exp Soc Psychol. 2010; 46(4):668-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2010.02.003
Blakemore S-J, Robbins T. Decision-making in the adolescent brain. Nat Neurosci. 2012;15:1184-91. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.3177 PMid:22929913
de Vesser L, van der Knaap L, van de Loo A, van der Weerd C, Ohl F, van den Bos R. Trait anxiety affects decision-making differently in healthy men and women: Towards gender-specific endophenotypes of anxiety. Neuropsychologia. 2010;48(6):1598-1606. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2010.01.027 PMid:20138896
Kable J, Glimcher P. The neurobiology of decision: Consensus and controversy. Neuron. 2009;63(6):733-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2009.09.003 PMid:19778504 PMCid:PMC2765926
Blaskova M, Bizik M, Jankal R. Model of decision making in motivating employees and managers. Eng Econ. 2015; 26(5):517-29. https://doi.org/10.5755/j01.ee.26.5.8727
Laube C, van den Bos W. Hormones and affect in adolescent decision making. Rec Dev Neurosci Res Human Motiv. 2016;19:259-81. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0749-742320160000019013
Bera P. How colors in business dashboards affect users’ decision making. Commun ACM. 2016;59(4):50-7. https://doi.org/10.1145/2818993
Henderson J, Nutt P. The influence of decision style on decision making behavior. Manag Sci. 1980;26(4):371-86. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.26.4.371
Gréhaigne J-F, Godbout P, Bouthie D. The teaching and learning of decision making in team sports. Quest. 2001;53(1):59-76. https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2001.10491730
Gladwell M. Blink: The power of thinking without thinking. UK: Penguin Books Ltd.; 2006.
Tremblay S, Shakira K, Platt M. Social decision-making and the brain: A comparative perspective. Trends Cogn Sci. 2017;21(4):265-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2017.01.007 PMid:28214131 PMCid:PMC5800770
Reyna V, Farley F. Risk and rationality in adolescent decision making: Implications for theory, practice, and public policy. Psychol Sci Public Interest. 2006;7(1):1-44. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1529-1006.2006.00026.x PMid:26158695
Brehmer B, Hagafors R. Use of experts in complex decision making: A paradigm for the study of staff work. Organ Behav Hum Decis Process. 1986;38(2):181-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(86)90015-4
Newell B, Shanks D. Unconscious influences on decision making: A critical review. Behav Brain Sci. 2014;37(1):1-19. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X12003214 PMid:24461214
Lee D. Game theory and neural basis of social decision making. Nat Neurosci. 2008;11:404-9. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn2065 PMid:18368047 PMCid:PMC2413175
Coricelli G, Dolan R, Sirigu A. Brain, emotion and decision making: The paradigmatic example of regret. Trends Cogn Sci. 2007;11(6):258-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2007.04.003 PMid:17475537
Bear MF, Connors BW, Paradiso MA. Neuroscience: Exploring the brain. Philadelphia (PA): Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2007.
Lovaglia M, Houser J. Emotional reactions and status in groups. Am Soc Assoc. 1996;61(5):867-83. https://doi.org/10.2307/2096458
Porath C, Pearson C. Emotional and behavioral responses to workplace incivility and the impact of hierarchical status. J Appl Soc Psychol. 2012;42(S1):E326-57. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2012.01020.x
Chatterjee K, Cheng S, Clark B, et al. Commuting and wellbeing: A critical overview of the literature with implications for policy and future research. Transp Rev. 2020;40(1):5-34. https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2019.1649317
Lorenz O. Does commuting matter to subjective well-being? J Transp Geogr. 2018;66:180-99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2017.11.019
American Diabetes Associations. Diabetes and employment. Diabetes Care. 2011;34(1):S82-6. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc14-S112 PMid:24357206
Strasser P, Wood F, Jacobson S. Educating supervisors of employees with diabetes. AAOHN J. 2008;56(6):262-7. https://doi.org/10.3928/08910162-20080601-01 PMid:18604922
Mazzola J, Moore J, Alexander K. Is work keeping us from acting healthy? How workplace barriers and facilitators impact nutrition and exercise behaviors. Stress Health. 2017;33(5):479-89. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.2731 PMid:27891758
Whati L, Senekal M, Steyn N, Nel J, Lombard C, Norris S. Development of a reliable and valid nutritional knowledge questionnaire for urban South African adolescents. Nutr. 2005;21(1):76-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2004.09.011 PMid:15661481
Taber KI. The use of Cronbach’s alpha when developing and reporting research instruments in science education. Res Sci Educ. 2018;48:1273-96. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-016-9602-2
Ursachi G, Horodnic I, Zait A. How reliable are measurement scales? External factors with indirect influence on reliability estimators. Procedia Econ Financ. 2015;20:679-86. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2212-5671(15)00123-9
Icer Arif M, Gezmen Karadag M. Evaluation of nutrition label reading habits and knowledge levels among Turkish consumers: Implications for healthier food choices. Eur J Environ Public Health. 2023;7(4):em0144. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejeph/13392
Ray J, Pijanowski J, Lasater K. The self-care practices of school principals. J Educ Admin. 2020;58(4):435-51. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-04-2019-0073

How to cite this article

Vancouver

Lountzis G. Self-care practices in decision-making: How nutrition and habits may affect decision in business. EUR J ENV PUBLIC HLT. 2024;8(1):em0152. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejeph/14128

APA

Lountzis, G. (2024). Self-care practices in decision-making: How nutrition and habits may affect decision in business. European Journal of Environment and Public Health, 8(1), em0152. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejeph/14128

AMA

Lountzis G. Self-care practices in decision-making: How nutrition and habits may affect decision in business. EUR J ENV PUBLIC HLT. 2024;8(1), em0152. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejeph/14128

Chicago

Lountzis, Georgios. "Self-care practices in decision-making: How nutrition and habits may affect decision in business". European Journal of Environment and Public Health 2024 8 no. 1 (2024): em0152. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejeph/14128

Harvard

Lountzis, G. (2024). Self-care practices in decision-making: How nutrition and habits may affect decision in business. European Journal of Environment and Public Health, 8(1), em0152. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejeph/14128

MLA

Lountzis, Georgios "Self-care practices in decision-making: How nutrition and habits may affect decision in business". European Journal of Environment and Public Health, vol. 8, no. 1, 2024, em0152. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejeph/14128