Personal Growth and Psychobiological Stress Responsiveness to the Trier Social Stress Test in Students

Kengo Mihara, Hisayoshi Okamura, Yoshihisa Shoji, Kyoko Tashiro, Yukie Kinoshita and Akira Tsuda
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Kengo Mihara: Cognitive and Molecular Institute of Brain Diseases, Kurume University, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan
Hisayoshi Okamura: Cognitive and Molecular Institute of Brain Diseases, Kurume University, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan
Yoshihisa Shoji: Cognitive and Molecular Institute of Brain Diseases, Kurume University, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan
Kyoko Tashiro: Research Institute of Medical Mass Spectrometry, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan
Yukie Kinoshita: Research Institute of Medical Mass Spectrometry, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan
Akira Tsuda: Department of Psychology, Kurume University, Fukuoka 839-8502, Japan

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: The current study aimed to examine the effects of personal growth (PG) on psychobiological responses at baseline and responsiveness to laboratory acute stress in students. Twenty-four healthy students were recruited as participants. Participants were screened from 203 candidates according to levels of PG using Ryff’s scale and classified into high and low PG groups. During the laboratory session, 13 high and 11 low PG participants underwent the Trier Social Stress Test. Heart rate and high-frequency (HF) heart rate variability were monitored throughout the experiment. Salivary free-3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol (MHPG) and perceived stress were measured at baseline, immediately after tasks and after a recovery period. Baseline and recovery perceived stress (tense arousal) were significantly lower in the high PG group compared with the low PG group. Free-MHPG and HF component returned to baseline levels during recovery significantly more rapidly in the high PG group compared with the low PG group. There were no significant group differences in heart rate. The results showed that high PG students have lower noradrenaline and higher parasympathetic nervous system activity before and after acute stress. These findings suggest a protective psychobiological pathway linking PG with better psychosomatic health in students.

Keywords: personal growth; eudaimonic well-being; salivary free-MHPG; HF component; heart rate; Trier Social Stress Test (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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