PLoS ONE (Jan 2013)

Self-affirmation improves problem-solving under stress.

  • J David Creswell,
  • Janine M Dutcher,
  • William M P Klein,
  • Peter R Harris,
  • John M Levine

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0062593
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 5
p. e62593

Abstract

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High levels of acute and chronic stress are known to impair problem-solving and creativity on a broad range of tasks. Despite this evidence, we know little about protective factors for mitigating the deleterious effects of stress on problem-solving. Building on previous research showing that self-affirmation can buffer stress, we tested whether an experimental manipulation of self-affirmation improves problem-solving performance in chronically stressed participants. Eighty undergraduates indicated their perceived chronic stress over the previous month and were randomly assigned to either a self-affirmation or control condition. They then completed 30 difficult remote associate problem-solving items under time pressure in front of an evaluator. Results showed that self-affirmation improved problem-solving performance in underperforming chronically stressed individuals. This research suggests a novel means for boosting problem-solving under stress and may have important implications for understanding how self-affirmation boosts academic achievement in school settings.