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Multi-modal responses to the Virtual Reality Trier Social Stress Test: A comparison with standard interpersonal and control conditions

Fallon,M.A.
; 
Hendricx-Riem,Madelon
; 
Kunst,L.E.
; 
Kop,W.J.
; 
Kupper,H.M.
Abstract
The Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) is a reliable social-evaluative stressor. To overcome limitations of the in vivo TSST, a standardized virtual reality TSST (VR-TSST) was developed. The present study compares the emotional (anxiety) and physiological (heart period and variability) response to a VR-TSST with an in vivo TSST and a control condition. Participants took part in either an in vivo TSST (N = 106, 64% female), VR-TSST (N = 52, 100% female), or a control TSST (N = 20, 40% female). Mixed linear modeling examined response profile differences related to TSST type. While there was an equivalent anxiety response to the in vivo TSST as the VR-TSST, we found a smaller heart period and heart rate variability response in VR-TSST compared to the in vivo TSST, especially in response to the math part of the test. The present findings demonstrate that social evaluative stress can be successfully induced in a VR setting, producing similar emotional and slightly attenuated cardiovascular responses.
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Funding Study 1 was sponsored by the Tilburg University Alumni Fund, the Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, and the Center of Research on Psychological and Somatic disorders, Tilburg University, The Netherlands.
Date
2021
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Tilburg University Research Output Collection
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Keywords
Cardiovascular responses, Heart rate variability, Psychosocial stress, Trier Social Stress Test, Virtual reality
Citation
Fallon, M A, Hendricx-Riem, M, Kunst, L E, Kop, W J & Kupper, H M 2021, 'Multi-modal responses to the Virtual Reality Trier Social Stress Test : A comparison with standard interpersonal and control conditions', International Journal of Psychophysiology, vol. 161, pp. 27-34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2021.01.010
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14602/75179
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