title: Self-affirmation improves problem-solving under stress.
abstract: High levels of acute and chronic stress are known to impair problem-solving and creativity on a broad range of tasks. Despite this evidence, we know little about protective factors for mitigating the deleterious effects of stress on problem-solving. Building on previous research showing that self-affirmation can buffer stress, we tested whether an experimental manipulation of self-affirmation improves problem-solving performance in chronically stressed participants. Eighty undergraduates indicated their perceived chronic stress over the previous month and were randomly assigned to either a self-affirmation or control condition. They then completed 30 difficult remote associate problem-solving items under time pressure in front of an evaluator. Results showed that self-affirmation improved problem-solving performance in underperforming chronically stressed individuals. This research suggests a novel means for boosting problem-solving under stress and may have important implications for understanding how self-affirmation boosts academic achievement in school settings.
authors: Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. creswell@cmu.edu
authors: J David
authors: JD
authors: Creswell
authors: Janine M
authors: JM
authors: Dutcher
authors: William M P
authors: WM
authors: Klein
authors: Peter R
authors: PR
authors: Harris
authors: John M
authors: JM
authors: Levine
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011340:Problem Solving; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
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