PreprintArticleVersion 1Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed
Spontaneous Self-Affirmation and Student-Specific Stress: Relationships with Overlapping Constructs of Positive Self Regard During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Version 1
: Received: 11 July 2023 / Approved: 12 July 2023 / Online: 12 July 2023 (12:05:30 CEST)
How to cite:
Nicklin, A.; Morgan, J. Spontaneous Self-Affirmation and Student-Specific Stress: Relationships with Overlapping Constructs of Positive Self Regard During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Preprints2023, 2023070817. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202307.0817.v1
Nicklin, A.; Morgan, J. Spontaneous Self-Affirmation and Student-Specific Stress: Relationships with Overlapping Constructs of Positive Self Regard During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Preprints 2023, 2023070817. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202307.0817.v1
Nicklin, A.; Morgan, J. Spontaneous Self-Affirmation and Student-Specific Stress: Relationships with Overlapping Constructs of Positive Self Regard During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Preprints2023, 2023070817. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202307.0817.v1
APA Style
Nicklin, A., & Morgan, J. (2023). Spontaneous Self-Affirmation and Student-Specific Stress: Relationships with Overlapping Constructs of Positive Self Regard During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202307.0817.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Nicklin, A. and Jim Morgan. 2023 "Spontaneous Self-Affirmation and Student-Specific Stress: Relationships with Overlapping Constructs of Positive Self Regard During the COVID-19 Pandemic" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202307.0817.v1
Abstract
Background: Student-specific stress is pervasive and impairs health and attainment. Experimentally induced self-affirmation can reduce stress, but little is known about the mechanisms underlying this effect, and the role of individual differences. The present study explores the relationship between spontaneous self-affirmation, student-specific stress, and overlapping constructs of positive self-regard during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: The study investigated inter-relationships between spontaneous self-affirmation, student-specific perceived stress and potential covariates including self-esteem, self-integrity and habitual positive self-thought. University students (N = 151) aged 18 to 50 responded to an online questionnaire including the Spontaneous Self-Affirmation Measure, College Student Stress Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Habitual Index of Positive Thinking and Self-Integrity Scale.
Results: Unexpectedly, regression analysis revealed that spontaneous self-affirmation was a positive predictor of student-specific stress, seemingly driven by relational affirmations. Self-esteem and habitual self-thought were negative predictors of student-specific stress, whilst self-integrity was not a predictor.
Conclusions: Habitual positive self-thought may offer a sustainable solution to student-specific stress, but spontaneous self-affirmation does not. A reduction in defensive responses, elicitation of negative emotions, or use of conditional relationships in relational affirmation
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.