Rethinking stress: the role of mindsets in determining the stress response.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Level 2 by design analogy: experimental lab trials manipulating mindset alongside scale validation.
PubMed 23437923 · doi:10.1037/a0031201
What was done
The authors conducted three studies to examine stress mindsets. Study 1 validated an 8-item Stress Mindset Measure (SMM) assessing beliefs that stress is enhancing versus debilitating. Study 2 tested whether stress mindsets could be modified using short multimedia video clips framing stress as either enhancing or debilitating. Study 3 examined the relationship between stress mindset and physiological (cortisol reactivity) and behavioral (desire for feedback) responses during stress.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data, sample sizes, or exact effect sizes. It reports that the 8-item instrument demonstrated reliability and validity, that video manipulations successfully altered stress mindsets, and that a stress-is-enhancing mindset was associated with moderate cortisol reactivity and a higher desire for feedback under stress.
Why it matters
This paper introduces the construct of 'stress mindset' and provides initial evidence that subjective appraisals of stress can be intentionally manipulated, influencing biological and behavioral responses to acute stress.
Limits
The abstract provides no sample sizes, participant demographics, statistical values, or effect sizes. Long-term durability of the video manipulations and generalizability outside laboratory settings were not reported.
Cited by
- supports Research from Alia Crum's laboratory demonstrates that stress can be adaptive and can improve performance and outcomes.