Changing stress mindsets to improve health and performance with a novel imagery intervention: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: Changing individuals’ beliefs about the consequences of experiencing stress, stress mindset, has emerged as a technique for promoting adaptive outcomes under stress. This technique may be particularly valuable given the potential malleability of stress mindset through brief non-clinical interventions. However, there is limited data on the effect of these interventions on the management of “real-world” ecological stressors. The current pre-registered study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel imagery-based intervention for changing stress mindset, and for improving key stress-related outcomes. Methods: University students visited a research lab twice over a two-week period (N = 150). The intervention was delivered following baseline measures in Session 1, and follow-up measures were taken in Session 2. Measures were perceived distress, psychological wellbeing, positive and negative affect, perceived physical health, proactive coping behavior, perceived somatic symptoms, and academic engagement. Objective academic performance data were also retrieved from university records. The intervention was pilot tested prior to the trial and was delivered using videos that provided information about stress, followed by guided imagery exercises. The control group received only a practice guided imagery exercise not related to stress. Data were analyzed using mixed design ANOVAs. Results: The intervention had a large effect on stress mindset immediately postintervention, and at the two-week follow-up, relative to the control group. There were no effects of the intervention on the stress-related outcomes for the preregistered analyses of the whole sample. Further theory-guided analyses revealed robust effects of the intervention on positive and negative affect, perceived distress, proactive coping behavior, and academic performance at the follow-up in participants who had high levels of perceived distress at the baseline. Conclusions: Findings reveal that the intervention is a promising approach for changing stress mindset, and that stress mindset can improve wellbeing and performance in those experiencing high levels of perceived distress. Future research should seek to replicate these findings and employ intensive longitudinal designs to examine momentary activation of stress mindset and its relationship with key stress-related outcomes following the intervention.