Psychological Courage Buffers BIS-Related Stress: A Two-Wave Test

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Stress and Coping
• Personality Psychology

Background:

• Psychological courage (PC) is theorized as a stress-protective factor.
• Its relationship with Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST) and Behavioural Inhibition System (BIS) sensitivity is not well understood.
• BIS sensitivity may heighten stress vulnerability due to anxiety during goal conflict.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the moderating role of psychological courage (PC) in the relationship between Behavioural Inhibition System (BIS) sensitivity and perceived stress.
• To examine how PC influences the translation of BIS-related anxiety into changes in perceived stress over time.

Main Methods:

• A two-wave panel study with a 62-day interval was conducted on a nationwide Polish sample (N=516).
• A moderation model was employed to predict changes in perceived stress from baseline BIS sensitivity, baseline PC, and their interaction.
• Statistical analyses examined the predictive power of BIS and PC on stress levels.

Main Results:

• Behavioural Inhibition System (BIS) sensitivity significantly predicted increases in perceived stress.
• The association between BIS sensitivity and increased perceived stress was significantly weaker for individuals with higher levels of psychological courage (PC).
• Psychological courage demonstrated a buffering effect on the stress process.

Conclusions:

• Psychological courage (PC) moderates the impact of Behavioural Inhibition System (BIS) sensitivity on perceived stress.
• PC acts as a boundary condition, mitigating the stress-increasing effects of BIS sensitivity.
• These findings highlight PC's protective role in the stress process, extending previous research.