Oswald D Kothgassner1, Andreas Goreis2, Johanna X Kafka3, Marlene Kaufmann4, Katharina Atteneder5, Leon Beutl6, Kristina Hennig-Fast7, Helmut Hlavacs8, Anna Felnhofer9. 1. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna General Hospital, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Wien, Austria; Department of Applied Psychology: Health, Development, Enhancement and Intervention, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010, Wien, Austria. Electronic address: oswald.kothgassner@meduniwien.ac.at. 2. Department of Applied Psychology: Health, Development, Enhancement and Intervention, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010, Wien, Austria. Electronic address: andreas.goreis@univie.ac.at. 3. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna General Hospital, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Wien, Austria. Electronic address: johanna.a.kafka@meduniwien.ac.at. 4. Department of Applied Psychology: Health, Development, Enhancement and Intervention, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010, Wien, Austria. Electronic address: marlene_kaufmann@gmx.at. 5. Department of Applied Psychology: Health, Development, Enhancement and Intervention, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010, Wien, Austria. Electronic address: Katharina_Atteneder@gmx.at. 6. Research Group Entertainment Computing, University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 29, 1090, Wien, Austria. Electronic address: leonbeutl@gmail.com. 7. Department of Applied Psychology: Health, Development, Enhancement and Intervention, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010, Wien, Austria; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Evangelisches Klinikum Bethel, Remterweg 69/71, 33617, Bielefeld, Germany. Electronic address: kristina.hennig-fast@univie.ac.at. 8. Research Group Entertainment Computing, University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 29, 1090, Wien, Austria. Electronic address: helmut.hlavacs@univie.ac.at. 9. Department of Applied Psychology: Health, Development, Enhancement and Intervention, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010, Wien, Austria; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Wien, Austria. Electronic address: anna.felnhofer@meduniwien.ac.at.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Face-to-face and text-based social support have been shown to attenuate stress responses in past studies. Yet as social interactions increasingly take place online by means of virtual humans, our objective was to examine whether different forms of social support (virtual vs. real) prior to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) would also decrease stress. Additionally, the effect on subsequent real-life social behaviors (helping and approach) was evaluated while controlling for affective states and social presence. METHODS: 56 participants were either supported by an avatar, an agent, a real human or received no support before completing the TSST and two subsequent social behavior tasks (pen task and seating task). RESULTS: Results show no difference in agency regarding social presence. Yet, participants with agent support and no support had significantly higher heart rates during the TSST and reported to be more worried. Also, they were more irritated and showed significantly slower helping reactions (picking up pens). LIMITATIONS: A limitation to this study is that only emotional verbal and non-verbal support were provided by a stranger. Different forms of support as well as a different source (i.e., a friend) may have a more pronounced effect on stress buffering. CONCLUSIONS: Virtual social support is as effective as face-to-face support in terms of stress buffering, as long as the recipient has the impression that it is provided by another human (via an avatar). This has wide ranging implications not only for health-related application in prevention and treatment but also for further research.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Face-to-face and text-based social support have been shown to attenuate stress responses in past studies. Yet as social interactions increasingly take place online by means of virtual humans, our objective was to examine whether different forms of social support (virtual vs. real) prior to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) would also decrease stress. Additionally, the effect on subsequent real-life social behaviors (helping and approach) was evaluated while controlling for affective states and social presence. METHODS: 56 participants were either supported by an avatar, an agent, a real human or received no support before completing the TSST and two subsequent social behavior tasks (pen task and seating task). RESULTS: Results show no difference in agency regarding social presence. Yet, participants with agent support and no support had significantly higher heart rates during the TSST and reported to be more worried. Also, they were more irritated and showed significantly slower helping reactions (picking up pens). LIMITATIONS: A limitation to this study is that only emotional verbal and non-verbal support were provided by a stranger. Different forms of support as well as a different source (i.e., a friend) may have a more pronounced effect on stress buffering. CONCLUSIONS: Virtual social support is as effective as face-to-face support in terms of stress buffering, as long as the recipient has the impression that it is provided by another human (via an avatar). This has wide ranging implications not only for health-related application in prevention and treatment but also for further research.
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