Cognitive Resilience Under Stress: A Tradeoff Between Mental Well-being and Mobilization

Abstract

Interventions promoting cognitive resilience to stress reduce anxiety, but reduction in anxiety results in lower political engagement. In a field experiment, students at a Hispanic-serving Institution received randomized information about stress manage- ment strategies and resources. Over the following year, when pandemic stressors were particularly strong, students who received this stress management treatment showed anxiety levels 11% lower than control students. However, lower anxiety predicted lower political action, consistent with predictions from affective intelligence theory. Thus, the intervention improved mental health outcomes and reduced likelihood of becoming politically mobilized. A second survey experiment more precisely identifies the direct impact of cognitive resilience-promoting interventions on downstream anx- iety and political action. Qualitative insights provide more insights into mechanisms. Overall, these studies raise the question of what healthy political engagement looks like if mental wellness programming reduces anxiety – a normatively good outcome – but decreases anxiety-driven political engagement in the process.