Table 1.
Demographic Variables, Salivary Cortisol, Depressive and Anxious Symptoms, Task Ratings, and Emotional Responses to the Task, by Condition
| Variable | No Stress (n = 23) |
Stress (n = 53) |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 23.35 (5.48) | 22.33 (3.69) |
| Salivary Cortisol (µg/dL) relative to task onset | ||
| 1 h 20 min pre | 0.17 (0.73) | 0.22 (0.29) |
| 20 min pre (baseline) | 0.17 (0.15) | 0.16 (0.16) |
| 10 min post† | 0.14 (0.10) | 0.21 (0.15) |
| 30 min post* | 0.12 (0.10) | 0.21 (0.14) |
| 45 min post† | 0.13 (0.08) | 0.18 (0.13) |
| 60 min post | 0.14 (0.11) | 0.16 (0.10) |
| 75 min post | 0.13 (0.09) | 0.16 (0.11) |
| 90 min post | 0.14 (0.07) | 0.13 (0.08) |
| Cortisol response (AUCG) | 14.58 (9.76) | 20.60 (13.92) |
| Depressive and Anxious Symptoms | ||
| Distress Symptoms | 40.73 (14.49) | 47.02 (16.98) |
| Somatic Symptoms | 28.41 (6.73) | 29.13 (6.84) |
| Anhedonic Symptoms | 39.27 (9.71) | 39.09 (10.70) |
| Pre-task Ratings (1–7) | ||
| Perceived threat*** | 1.43 (.73) | 3.79 (1.67) |
| Perceived ability to cope *** | 6.70 (.56) | 5.02 (1.46) |
| Post-task Ratings (1–7) | ||
| Stress *** | 1.64 (1.33) | 4.47 (1.60) |
| Control *** | 6.32 (1.32) | 4.55 (1.64) |
| Helplessness *** | 1.27 (.88) | 3.74 (1.67) |
| Performance Satisfaction*** | 5.68 (1.17) | 4.06 (1.61) |
| Emotional Responses (Change from pre to post task) | ||
| Negative emotion† | −0.30 (2.23) | −2.08 (5.30) |
| Positive emotion | 0.18 (5.06) | 0.60 (4.43) |
| Anxiety** | 0.62 (5.57) | 5.25 (8.07) |
Note. Values are means with SDs in parentheses. Sample size for cortisol levels varied at each timepoint due to missing or undetectable levels, described as follows (No Stress n/Stress n): 1 h 20 min pre (22/50), 20 min pre (23/53), 10 min post (21/50), 30 min post (22/51), 45 min post (22/52), 60 min post (21/48), 75 min post (21/49), 90 min post (22/48).
Main effect of condition,
†
p <.10,
*
p < .05,
**
p < .01,
***
p < .001
AUCG = area under the curve with respect to ground; SD = standard deviation