Temporal Dynamics Between Daily Stress, Activity Choice, and Well-Being: An Experience Sampling Study

Daily life is full of stressful events, but previous studies have inconsistent findings on how stress predicts daily activities. This study explored the relationship between perceived stress, activity choice, and happiness and meaning through an experience sampling method. Over 10 days, 205 participants reported their perceptions of momentary demands, resources, happiness, meaning, and activities four times a day, totaling 7362 observations. Stress was operationalised using both perceived demands and the ratio of demands to resources. Multilevel modelling showed that both concurrent demands and the demands-to-resources ratio were positively associated with meaning-increasing activities (e.g., working and studying) and negatively associated with activities that promote both happiness and meaning (e.g., eating and shopping). The ratio also predicted greater engagement in meditation, which also increases both happiness and meaning. Additionally, higher prior demands predicted reduced physical activity-an activity linked to increased happiness and meaning. These findings revealed behavioural tendencies and motivations under stress and offered implications for stress management in daily life.