Stress reactivity during evaluation by the opposite sex: comparison of responses induced by different psychosocial stress tests

Abstract

It is becoming increasingly difficult for researchers to continue their high rates of publication when funding budgets are running tighter than ever. It is therefore in a researcher’s best interest to utilize more economical tests whenever possible. This project aims to compare various stress tests in order to determine whether the new, cost-efficient Maastricht Acute Stress Test (MAST) activates a physiological and subjective stress response with the same effectiveness as pre-existing, more resource-intensive tests. This study demonstrated that the MAST produces a response similar to that of the previously predominant Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Meanwhile, database data shows that the purely physiological Cold Pressor Task (CPT) lags behind in terms of response elicited. These findings may allow for a more cost-efficient yet highly effective stress task to become available to researchers.