A study on stress processes for college students during semester-end examinations

The present study examined individual differences in psychological: and phy siological stress responses to the same stressor. In Study 1, psychological stress responses were assessed at three time periods: four weeks before. t he day before; and the middle day of the semester-end examination period (N = 69). Both stress coping and MPI were In Study 2, 15 subjects were expose d to :the Same psychological stressor in an experiment to measure heart rat e. The stressors were memorization of material-relevant to the examination (Test 1), and mental calculation irrelevant to the examination (Test 2). Su bjects were divided into 2 groups on the basis of their Study psychological stress response scores: the low stress group (LS, N = 10) and the high str ess group (HS, N = 5): The results of Study 1 and Test 1 of Study 2 suggest ed:that there were significant differences between LS and HS In stress resp onses. These findings were discussed in light of cognitive appraisal and co ntrollability of time. Further studies are needed to clarify the aspect of time span in cognitive appraisal.