Author ORCID Identifier
Date Available
5-21-2023
Year of Publication
2021
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Document Type
Master's Thesis
College
Arts and Sciences
Department/School/Program
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. Peggy S. Keller
Abstract
Coping represents an important process for stress: how effectively one copes dictates how a person experiences stress. However, research has not yet examined how a person’s long-term coping habits are related to their physiological stress responding during a particular situation. The current study addresses this through examination of skin conductance level (SCL) trajectories and coping tendencies (i.e. habitual use of coping strategies) during an autobiographical interview. 167 college students completed questionnaires assessing their demographics and their frequency of use for fourteen coping strategies. SCL was collected while participants recalled and discussed a negative family memory from their childhood. Multilevel modeling was used to assess whether individual coping tendencies, or habitual use of multiple coping tendencies, indicating coping flexibility, were related to trajectories of SCL during the course of the interview. Results revealed that self-distraction, planning, active coping, humor, use of emotional support, and coping flexibility were related to SCL trajectories. Generally, those reporting higher use of these variables exhibited trajectories of SCL that decrease less steeply and are more stable throughout the interview. These findings suggest that stabilizing SCL, through engaging in more problem-focused coping or coping flexibility, may alleviate the negative mental health outcomes associated with differential SCL responding.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2021.155
Recommended Citation
Rawn, Kyle P., "PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS RESPONDING DURING NEGATIVE MEMORY RECOLLECTION AND THE HABITUAL USE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL COPING STRATEGIES" (2021). Theses and Dissertations--Psychology. 191.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/psychology_etds/191
