1
Heart rate increasing in the anticipatory to a stressful
event: Public Speaking Test.
Lou-Ann Quentin
University of Westminster, London, UK
BSPSY04F: Psychology and Criminology
November 28, 2022
1,957 words
Abstract
The Trier Social Stress Test has long been criticised for unnecessarily inflicting too
high a level of stress to its participants based on the BPS Code of Human Research
Ethics. This study’s aim was therefore to find an alternative test to use to measure
stress. The Public Speaking Test (PST) was then used which investigated the change
in level of stress using heart rate (BPM) when its participants were exposed to the
anticipatory of a stressful event, compared to their resting heart rate.
Sixty students from the University of Westminster, enrolled in the psychology and
criminology joint course, were used as the participants for this study.
The participants recorded their resting heart rate using a Pulse Oximeter for the baseline
data, and were then told that they were going to take part in public speaking. After being
told so, they recorded their heart rate once more which was used for the condition data.
The results showed a significant increase in heart rate post-stress inducing manipulation
compared to the baseline data, providing evidence for the accuracy of this new test due to
its positive correlation with the TSST results.
1. Introduction
Evans (1984) defines stress as where an individual is put in a situation in which the
environmental demands exceed their abilities to respond. This means that when studying
stress, researchers must recognise that as individuals are cognitively different they will have
different responses to what is commonly seen as a stressful situation. Therefore, some may
have high stress levels, and some may have low stress levels when faced with the same
situation which means that results will not always be fully accurate and representative to their
population.
A large body of research has examined stress such as that of the Sing-a-Song Stress Test
(SSST) by Brouwer and Hogervorst (2014) which measures heart beat per minute when
participants are induced mental stress.
Foley and Kirschbaum (2010) suggest that one of the most important reasons that stress is
a significant study is because “cumulative acute psychological stress is thought to promote
the development of a range of disorders”(p. 91). This then in turn suggests that biomarkers,
which are medical signs that can be observed on the outside of a patient, may be valuable
, 2
tools for biomedical research when it comes to physiological response. (Strimbu & Tavel.,
2010; Foley & Kirschbaum, 2010) The Trier Social Stress Test has then been aiding search
for these biomarkers by providing a valid and reliable acute stressor.
The Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) is a validated method of producing a stress response. It
involves interview by a panel and a mental arithmetic task. It is one of the most popular
methods of inducing acute stress in experimental settings, and reliably increases
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation. Limitations to the TSST are that it
requires a panel of confederates and takes time to set up and run and is therefore relatively
resource intensive. Furthermore, the TSST is quite an unpleasant experience for participants.
The aim of our study is to replace the TSST, due to the high levels of stress it inflicts to its
participants, with a test more ethical which can still accurately measure stress levels when
individuals are faced with a stressful situation. This experiment focuses on measuring stress
levels in the anticipatory to a stressful event instead of stress levels in a stressful event as it
exposes the participants to a stressful situation which will mirror similar results to that of the
TSST in terms of the direction of the correlation between pre- and post manipulation. This
therefore makes this experiment accurate and more abiding to the BPS Code of Human
Research Ethics. The test used in this study will be referenced to as the Public Speaking Test
(PST).
The TSST provides evidence for heart rate increasing when individuals are induced to
acute stress. As this experiment is made to mirror the correlational direction of the TSST
results, it is predicted that the anticipatory to a stressful event will increase the heart rate
(BPM).
2. Method
2.1. Design
A repeated measures design was used for this experiment, testing each participant twice,
once before and once after manipulation. The independent variable was the situation the
participants were exposed to, as before the manipulation they were left in a neutral situation,
making their pulse steady. They were then put in a stressful situation when told they would
need to speak in front of everyone. This then affected their pulse, which makes the heart rate,
the dependent variable.
2.2. Participants
The participants were 60 students from the University of Westminster enrolled in the
psychology and criminology course, who were asked to take part during a seminar. The
sample included 51 women and 9 men aged between 17 and 26 years (M = 19.08, SD = 1.68).
All the participants completed the study.
2.3. Materials
Heart rate increasing in the anticipatory to a stressful
event: Public Speaking Test.
Lou-Ann Quentin
University of Westminster, London, UK
BSPSY04F: Psychology and Criminology
November 28, 2022
1,957 words
Abstract
The Trier Social Stress Test has long been criticised for unnecessarily inflicting too
high a level of stress to its participants based on the BPS Code of Human Research
Ethics. This study’s aim was therefore to find an alternative test to use to measure
stress. The Public Speaking Test (PST) was then used which investigated the change
in level of stress using heart rate (BPM) when its participants were exposed to the
anticipatory of a stressful event, compared to their resting heart rate.
Sixty students from the University of Westminster, enrolled in the psychology and
criminology joint course, were used as the participants for this study.
The participants recorded their resting heart rate using a Pulse Oximeter for the baseline
data, and were then told that they were going to take part in public speaking. After being
told so, they recorded their heart rate once more which was used for the condition data.
The results showed a significant increase in heart rate post-stress inducing manipulation
compared to the baseline data, providing evidence for the accuracy of this new test due to
its positive correlation with the TSST results.
1. Introduction
Evans (1984) defines stress as where an individual is put in a situation in which the
environmental demands exceed their abilities to respond. This means that when studying
stress, researchers must recognise that as individuals are cognitively different they will have
different responses to what is commonly seen as a stressful situation. Therefore, some may
have high stress levels, and some may have low stress levels when faced with the same
situation which means that results will not always be fully accurate and representative to their
population.
A large body of research has examined stress such as that of the Sing-a-Song Stress Test
(SSST) by Brouwer and Hogervorst (2014) which measures heart beat per minute when
participants are induced mental stress.
Foley and Kirschbaum (2010) suggest that one of the most important reasons that stress is
a significant study is because “cumulative acute psychological stress is thought to promote
the development of a range of disorders”(p. 91). This then in turn suggests that biomarkers,
which are medical signs that can be observed on the outside of a patient, may be valuable
, 2
tools for biomedical research when it comes to physiological response. (Strimbu & Tavel.,
2010; Foley & Kirschbaum, 2010) The Trier Social Stress Test has then been aiding search
for these biomarkers by providing a valid and reliable acute stressor.
The Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) is a validated method of producing a stress response. It
involves interview by a panel and a mental arithmetic task. It is one of the most popular
methods of inducing acute stress in experimental settings, and reliably increases
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation. Limitations to the TSST are that it
requires a panel of confederates and takes time to set up and run and is therefore relatively
resource intensive. Furthermore, the TSST is quite an unpleasant experience for participants.
The aim of our study is to replace the TSST, due to the high levels of stress it inflicts to its
participants, with a test more ethical which can still accurately measure stress levels when
individuals are faced with a stressful situation. This experiment focuses on measuring stress
levels in the anticipatory to a stressful event instead of stress levels in a stressful event as it
exposes the participants to a stressful situation which will mirror similar results to that of the
TSST in terms of the direction of the correlation between pre- and post manipulation. This
therefore makes this experiment accurate and more abiding to the BPS Code of Human
Research Ethics. The test used in this study will be referenced to as the Public Speaking Test
(PST).
The TSST provides evidence for heart rate increasing when individuals are induced to
acute stress. As this experiment is made to mirror the correlational direction of the TSST
results, it is predicted that the anticipatory to a stressful event will increase the heart rate
(BPM).
2. Method
2.1. Design
A repeated measures design was used for this experiment, testing each participant twice,
once before and once after manipulation. The independent variable was the situation the
participants were exposed to, as before the manipulation they were left in a neutral situation,
making their pulse steady. They were then put in a stressful situation when told they would
need to speak in front of everyone. This then affected their pulse, which makes the heart rate,
the dependent variable.
2.2. Participants
The participants were 60 students from the University of Westminster enrolled in the
psychology and criminology course, who were asked to take part during a seminar. The
sample included 51 women and 9 men aged between 17 and 26 years (M = 19.08, SD = 1.68).
All the participants completed the study.
2.3. Materials
