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Published on: January 16, 2014
Executive functioning performance predicts subjective and physiological acute stress reactivity: preliminary results
Donny Hendrawan1, Kaori Yamakawa, Motohiro Kimura
1Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Aichi 464-8601, Japan. dhendrawan@gmail.com
Summary
Strong executive functioning (EF) skills, particularly letter fluency, predict lower stress responses. Higher letter fluency scores correlate with reduced state anxiety, negative mood, cortisol, and skin conductance during acute stress.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Neuroscience
- Psychophysiology
Background:
- Individual differences in executive functioning (EF) predict state anxiety under stress.
- The link between EF and physiological stress markers remains under-explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess if EF tests predict subjective and physiological stress reactivity.
- To investigate the relationship between specific EF tasks and acute stress responses.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated letter fluency, Stroop test, and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.
- Measured subjective (state anxiety, negative mood) and physiological (salivary cortisol, skin conductance) stress reactivity.
- Controlled for baseline stress and body mass index (BMI).
Main Results:
- Letter fluency was the strongest predictor of stress reactivity.
- Higher letter fluency scores were associated with lower state anxiety, negative mood, cortisol, and skin conductance.
- Predictive power for state anxiety and cortisol remained significant after adjusting for BMI.
Conclusions:
- Good executive functioning, specifically high letter fluency, may mitigate acute stress responses.
- EF processes are directly implicated in the regulation of physiological and psychological stress.
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