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Wolfe EC, Thompson AG, Brunyé TT, Davis FC, Grover D, Haga Z, Doyle T, Goyal A, Shaich H, Urry HL. Ultra-brief training in cognitive reappraisal or mindfulness reduces anxiety and improves motor performance efficiency under stress. ANXIETY, STRESS, AND COPING 2023:1-22. [PMID: 36625033 DOI: 10.1080/10615806.2022.2162890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES We examined the effects of ultra-brief training in mindfulness and cognitive reappraisal on affective response and performance under stress. We hypothesized that one or both types of training would decrease affective responding and improve performance, and that these effects might be moderated by acute stress induction. DESIGN We manipulated training (mindfulness, cognitive reappraisal, control) between subjects and level of stress (low, high) within subjects in a 3 × 2 mixed factorial design. Method: Participants (N = 112, ages 18-35) completed two sessions on different days. In each session, they received mindfulness or cognitive reappraisal training or listened to a control script prior to a low- or high-stress simulated hostage situation. We measured motor performance efficiency (proportion of shots that hit hostile and hostage targets), affective responding (self-reported anxiety, salivary cortisol and alpha amylase, and autonomic physiology), and physical activity. RESULTS Compared to control instructions, ultra-brief training in cognitive reappraisal or mindfulness reduced subjective anxiety and increased performance efficiency. There were few effects of training on other measures. CONCLUSION Ultra-brief training in cognitive reappraisal or mindfulness prior to a stressful task may be both helpful and harmful; effects are preliminary and subject to boundary conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma C Wolfe
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.,Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - Andrew G Thompson
- Center for Initial Military Training, U. S. Army TRADOC, Fort Eustis, VA, USA.,Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - Tad T Brunyé
- Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.,Cognitive Science and Applications Team, U. S. Army DEVCOM Soldier Center, Natick, MA, USA
| | - F Caroline Davis
- Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.,Cognitive Science and Applications Team, U. S. Army DEVCOM Soldier Center, Natick, MA, USA.,The Human Connection Counseling Center, Sandpoint, ID, USA
| | - Daniel Grover
- Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - Zachary Haga
- Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.,Human-Robot Interaction Laboratory, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - Thomas Doyle
- Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - Anjali Goyal
- Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - Hannah Shaich
- Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - Heather L Urry
- Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.,Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
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