The impact of momentary stress on autobiographical memory recall in a self-efficacy intervention

Recalling positive autobiographical memories has been associated with various positive psychological outcomes, including enhanced mental well-being and self-efficacy. Given the known impact of stress on cognitive functioning, we investigated how momentary stress affects the repeated recall of selected autobiographical mastery memories (e.g., memories of overcoming challenges) in a training to enhance self-efficacy. During this one-week digital training, participants (N = 54) were asked to recall mastery memories, and we assessed their momentary stress levels, memory vividness, and recall feasibility using Ecological Momentary Assessment. Analyses using linear mixed-effects models showed that participants reported greater difficulty and less vividness in recalling self-efficacy memories during moments of increased stress, whereas feeling relaxed facilitated recall feasibility and vividness. Though participants who experienced less recall difficulty appeared to benefit more, recall difficulty and vividness did not significantly moderate improvements in self-efficacy. While replication in a larger, more diverse sample is indicated, our findings underscore the importance of considering momentary affect in memory-based mental health interventions. Effects may be particularly pronounced when interventions are applied during the early stages of stress, when stress levels are still relatively low, aligning with the strategy of Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions. Our study also highlights the potential benefits of combining memory recall practices with relaxation-promoting interventions to enhance mental health outcomes.