Date of Award

2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Cottrell, Catherine

Area of Concentration

Biopsychology

Abstract

This study explores Residential Advisors' sympathetic nervous system (SNS) reactivity during an acute stress task and its relation to occupational outcomes. Specifically, this study assessed whether individuals’ SNS reactivity, measured using skin conductance and heart rate, correlates with subjective job stress and coworkers' evaluations of a participant's ability to manage stress, respond to emergencies, and make the right decisions. Although there were no statistically significant results, SNS activation appears to be practically associated with job stress and coworker evaluations. A greater change in heart rate was practically correlated with more positive coworker evaluations, and a greater change in skin conductance was practically correlated with increased job stress. In order to further explore these associations, further research with a larger sample size is necessary.

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