title: Social stress facilitates risk in youths.
abstract: This research examined the influence of social stress on risk processes in youths. Study 1 (N = 89) randomly assigned male youths to perform either a stressful social-evaluative or nonstressful control task followed by a risk-perception measure. Compared to controls, social stress participants perceived less risk in their environment. Study 2 (N = 188) extended findings by testing effects of social stress on risk perception in males and females, and across 3 age groups: teenagers (15-19), young adults (25-40), and older adults (60-75). Replicating Study 1, teenagers experiencing social stress perceived less risk than age-matched controls. However, adults assigned to experience social stress reported greater risk perception compared to their age-matched controls. Effects of social stress also extended to risk-taking behavior. Stressed teenagers engaged in more risk-taking behavior relative to controls, and showed increased reward and lowered cost sensitivity during decision-making. These findings offer basic and translational value regarding factors that influence how youths evaluate risk.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Rochester.
authors: Jeremy P
authors: JP
authors: Jamieson
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco.
authors: Wendy Berry
authors: WB
authors: Mendes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012938:Social Perception; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone