Acute stress alters individual risk taking in a time‐dependent manner and leads to anti‐social risk

Abstract

Decision-making processes can be modulated by stress, and the time elapsed from stress induction seems to be a crucial factor in determining the direction of the effects. Although current approaches consider the first post-stress hour a uniform period, the dynamic pattern of activation of the physiological stress systems (i.e., the sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis) suggests that its neurobehavioural impact might be heterogeneous. Here, we evaluate economic risk preferences on the gain domain (i.e., risk aversion) at three time points following exposure to psychosocial stress (immediately after, and 20 and 45 min from onset). Using lottery games, we examine decisions at both the individual and social levels. We find that risk aversion shows a time-dependent change across the first post-stress hour, evolving from less risk aversion shortly after stress to more risk averse behaviour at the last testing time. When risk implied an antisocial outcome to a third party, stressed individuals showed less regard for this person in their decisions. Participants' cortisol levels explained their behaviour in the risk, but not the antisocial, game. Our findings reveal differential stress effects in self-and other-regarding decision-making and highlight the multidimensional nature of the immediate aftermath of stress for cognition.

The Relations Among Stress, Executive Functions, and Harsh Parenting in Mothers

“…Specifically, this sample size was attained by predicting a small-to-medium effect size based on previous research examining effects of stress on similar constructs (e.g., Bendahan et al, 2016, Starcke & Brand, 2016, using an alpha level of .05, power of .80, and six predictors.…”

Stress and decision making: effects on valuation, learning, and risk-taking

“…Multiple studies have reported risk-taking increases when decisions are framed as potential financial gains [64–66], though longer stress-to-task latencies have recently been shown to be a factor with respect to decisions under risk [i.e., greater risk taking immediately after stress but reduced risk-taking 45 minutes later; 67] Other studies separating decisions under risk by domain (gain/loss trials) are inconsistent. For instance, acute systemic stress applied in that context has led to an exaggerated reflection effect (i.e., decreased risk-taking for gains but increases for losses) interpreted as a stress-related shift towards habit-based DM [68].…”

Competitiveness and Stress

“…Bendahan et al. () examine risk preference at three time points—immediately, 20 minutes, and 45 minutes after the onset of TSST‐induced stress—and observe a time‐dependent change from lower to greater risk aversion. Wälde () provides a theoretical analysis on stress and coping.…”

“…Using TSST to induce stress, Cahlíková and Cingl (2016) show that exogenously induced psychosocial stress significantly increase risk aversion, especially for men. Bendahan et al (2017) examine risk preference at three time points-immediately, 20 minutes, and 45 minutes after the onset of TSST-induced stress-and observe a time-dependent change from lower to greater risk aversion. Wälde (2015) provides a theoretical analysis on stress and coping.…”