Mindsets and stress

The negative impacts of prolonged, excessive and unmanaged stress are extensively documented and include:

• links to some of the leading causes of death e.g., cancer and heart disease

• depression and anxiety

• an inability to concentrate

• lowered self-esteem

What is less documented is that not all stress is negative. Eustress refers to positive stress, stress that yields a benefit (e.g., participating in a wedding ceremony, planning an overseas vacation). It can be an ally for personal and professional growth as it increases mental alertness, heightens awareness and is linked to an increased perception of meaningfulness and mastery.

Is the response to stress fixed?

The experience of stress then can either be debilitating or enhancing. Is one’s response to stress fixed? Research into mindsets has shown that some people view their qualities or traits as fixed whilst others see them as malleable, capable of development with effort and experience. Those who have a malleable or growth mindset tend to be unafraid to learn or confront challenges. They stretch themselves, “stick with it” and are resilient in the face of setbacks. Importantly, research has shown that growth mindsets can be learned.

Mindsets and response to stress

Whilst mindsets are not in and of themselves an appraisal or coping strategy, can the mindset one adopts influence the response to stress? Recent research suggests yes[i]. Whether one adopts a mindset that evaluates stress as debilitating (i.e., expects the experience of stress will result in decreased health and vitality) or enhancing (i.e., expects the experience of stress to result in enhancing outcomes such as wellbeing, health, learning, growth and improved performance and productivity) will influence how one responds to the perceived stress. Those with a stress- is-debilitating mindset are more likely to deny, avoid or use counterproductive coping mechanisms in an effort to prevent debilitating outcomes. Conversely those with a stress-is-enhancing mindset are more likely to acknowledge the stress experience and initiate and engage in actions designed to achieve enhancing outcomes e.g., problem solving, goal directed thinking and behaviour. So, the mindset one adopts about stress when exposed to stress is a factor in determining whether the experience is debilitating or enhancing.

Reference

[i] Crum A.J., Salovey, P., & Achor, S. (2013). Rethinking Stress: The Role of Mindsets in Determining Stress Response. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 104, 4, 716-733.