BACKGROUND: One mechanism by which acute psychosocial stress effects health-related cognitions and behaviors is through changes in the level of mental abstraction when processing information. However, it is unclear whether levels of mental abstraction would be higher or lower after an acute psychosocial stressor. OBJECTIVES: This research examined acute psychosocial stress's impact on levels of mental abstraction. DESIGN: Randomized between-subjects experimental design. METHODS: A diverse sample of 164 undergraduate students aged 18-24 years old were randomly assigned to an acute psychosocial stressor or non-stressful control condition. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and negative affect were monitored throughout the study and mental abstraction was measured at the end of each condition. RESULTS: Mental abstraction was statistically significantly higher (i.e., more abstract) after the stress condition than after the control condition (p = 0.005, d = 0.44). This association was partially explained by negative affect (p = 0.017), but not BP or HR (ps > 0.60). CONCLUSIONS: Acute psychosocial stress is associated with higher levels of mental abstraction after the stressor. These findings may have implications for stress-relevant interventions as accounting for the level of mental abstraction may enhance the efficacy of the intervention.
BACKGROUND: One mechanism by which acute psychosocial stress effects health-related cognitions and behaviors is through changes in the level of mental abstraction when processing information. However, it is unclear whether levels of mental abstraction would be higher or lower after an acute psychosocial stressor. OBJECTIVES: This research examined acute psychosocial stress's impact on levels of mental abstraction. DESIGN: Randomized between-subjects experimental design. METHODS: A diverse sample of 164 undergraduate students aged 18-24 years old were randomly assigned to an acute psychosocial stressor or non-stressful control condition. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and negative affect were monitored throughout the study and mental abstraction was measured at the end of each condition. RESULTS: Mental abstraction was statistically significantly higher (i.e., more abstract) after the stress condition than after the control condition (p = 0.005, d = 0.44). This association was partially explained by negative affect (p = 0.017), but not BP or HR (ps > 0.60). CONCLUSIONS: Acute psychosocial stress is associated with higher levels of mental abstraction after the stressor. These findings may have implications for stress-relevant interventions as accounting for the level of mental abstraction may enhance the efficacy of the intervention.
Authors: Douglas A Granger; Katie T Kivlighan; Christine Fortunato; Amanda G Harmon; Leah C Hibel; Eve B Schwartz; Guy-Lucien Whembolua Journal: Physiol Behav Date: 2007-05-22
Authors: Elissa S Epel; Alexandra D Crosswell; Stefanie E Mayer; Aric A Prather; George M Slavich; Eli Puterman; Wendy Berry Mendes Journal: Front Neuroendocrinol Date: 2018-03-15 Impact factor: 8.606
Authors: Charrlotte Seib; Eliza Whiteside; Janice Humphreys; Kathryn Lee; Patrick Thomas; Lisa Chopin; Gabrielle Crisp; Angela O'Keeffe; Michael Kimlin; Andrew Stacey; Debra Anderson Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2014-01-08 Impact factor: 3.295