Department of Brain and Learning Science, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; School of Teacher Education, NanJing XiaoZhuang University, Nanjing 211171, China.
School of Teacher Education, NanJing XiaoZhuang University, Nanjing 211171, China.
Neurosci Lett. 2023 Aug 24;812:137372. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137372. Epub 2023 Jul 5.
Stress belief plays an important role in stress response. This study investigated whether individuals with high test anxiety/low test anxiety (HTA/LTA) held different stress belief, and tested the effect of stress reappraisal on reducing test anxiety related autonomic nervous system (ANS) response.
51 HTA students and 49 LTA students were recruited using the Test Anxiety Scale (TAS). They completed a 10-min intelligence test (including preparation, test, and recovery phases), then were randomly assigned to reappraisal group and control group to complete the test again. Heart rate variability (HRV) was recorded throughout the protocol. Beliefs about Stress Scale was obtained before and after the experiment. Stress belief were manipulated using a 2-min film clip that orienting participant to the enhancing nature of stress. Emotional changes were assessed.
HTA individuals held more negative stress beliefs and showed greater emotional arousal during the test than the LTA individuals. Their negative stress belief was associated with higher TAS score and worse HRV response. (2) When facing an exam, LTA individuals exhibited increased low-frequency HRV and stable high-frequency HRV, while HTA individuals showed stable low-frequency HRV and decreased high-frequency HRV. (3) HTA individuals who underwent reappraisal showed a reduction in test anxiety and in low-frequency/high-frequency HRV ratio.
The ANS activity of HTA individuals is imbalanced in the test situations. Stress belief is a meaningful variable in anxiety related ANS activity. Stress reappraisal can effectively reduce test anxiety and improve the balance of ANS activity of HTA individuals.
压力信念在压力反应中起着重要作用。本研究调查了高考试焦虑/低考试焦虑（HTA/LTA）个体是否具有不同的压力信念，并检验了压力再评价对降低与考试焦虑相关的自主神经系统（ANS）反应的作用。
使用考试焦虑量表（TAS）招募了 51 名 HTA 学生和 49 名 LTA 学生。他们完成了一项 10 分钟的智力测试（包括准备、测试和恢复阶段），然后被随机分配到再评价组和对照组再次完成测试。整个实验过程中记录了心率变异性（HRV）。实验前后使用 2 分钟的电影片段获得压力信念量表。通过引导参与者关注压力的增强性质来操纵压力信念。评估情绪变化。
HTA 个体比 LTA 个体持有更消极的压力信念，并在测试中表现出更大的情绪唤醒。他们的消极压力信念与更高的 TAS 分数和更差的 HRV 反应相关。（2）当面临考试时，LTA 个体表现出低频 HRV 增加和高频 HRV 稳定，而 HTA 个体表现出低频 HRV 稳定和高频 HRV 减少。（3）接受再评价的 HTA 个体表现出考试焦虑减轻和低频/高频 HRV 比值降低。
HTA 个体在测试情况下的 ANS 活动不平衡。压力信念是焦虑相关 ANS 活动的一个有意义的变量。压力再评价可以有效降低 HTA 个体的考试焦虑并改善 ANS 活动的平衡。
