Emotion regulation abilities as a predictor of anxiety, positive emotions, heart rate, and alpha asymmetry during an impromptu speech task.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional observational laboratory study evaluating baseline traits as predictors of acute stress response.
PubMed 33380225 · doi:10.1080/10615806.2020.1867717
What was done
In a cross-sectional laboratory study, 134 youths completed self-report measures of emotion regulation abilities, specifically emotional awareness, anxiety sensitivity, and emotional control. Participants then performed an impromptu speech task while subjective anxiety, positive emotions, heart rate, and EEG alpha asymmetry were measured across four time points: baseline, anticipation, speech delivery, and post-recovery.
What was found
The abstract reports directional associations without providing numerical values, correlation coefficients, or regression statistics. Pearson correlations indicated that lower emotional control, lower emotional awareness, and higher anxiety sensitivity correlated with greater anxiety and lower positive emotions during the speech. Hierarchical multiple regressions showed emotional control and awareness predicted speech anxiety and reduced positive emotions, while anxiety sensitivity predicted higher heart rate during the speech.
Why it matters
The findings demonstrate that individual differences in emotional awareness, emotional control, and anxiety sensitivity are linked to both psychological and autonomic stress responses during acute social evaluative stress in youth.
Limits
The study is cross-sectional and correlational, preventing causal inference. The abstract provides no numerical data, confidence intervals, or p-values, omits findings for alpha asymmetry despite listing it as an outcome, and does not specify participant age range or clinical status. Laboratory stress responses may not fully reflect naturalistic stress coping.
Cited by
- context The point where people experience peak nervousness during public speaking is approximately 30 seconds before starting and about one minute into speaking.