Susceptibility of Stress Mindset in Response to Stress [University of West Florida]

Abstract

Stress is often regarded as negative and debilitating to mental and physical health, but an alternative view is that stress can have a positive influence. These views are known as stress mindsets, and it can affect an individual’s quality of life. Crum et al.’s (2013) study successfully manipulated mindset by showing the participants short videos depicting stress as either negative or positive. Based on Crum et al.’s (2013) results, our research lab examined the effects of manipulated stress mindset, using these videos, on objective cognitive performance in Study 1.  In Study 1, the effect of stress mindset on cognitive performance was examined after stress induction. In Study 2, we will examine if stress mindset is easily influenced after stress induction, relative to no stress induction. We will evaluate the participants’ mindset change by comparing their baseline measurements to their measurements after mindset manipulation. The procedure will begin with measuring mindset with the Stress Control Mindset Measure and an implicit association test, and measuring stress with a current stress level scale and pulse oximeter. Cognitive performance will be measured with the Stroop task and Trail Making Task. The mindset manipulation will be implemented by randomly assigning either the positive, stress-is-enhancing video or the negative, stress-is-debilitating video. Then we will have the participants take the stress mindset measures and cognitive tasks again. We will compare these results with the results from Study 1. We hypothesize that participants who are not stressed (Study 2) will have an easier time changing their mindset after mindset manipulation, whereas participants who are stressed (Study 1) will have a harder time changing their mindset after mindset manipulation. Data collection has been completed and further statistical analysis will be conducted before April 2019.