At the end of an
educational year many students wait anxiously for their examination results,
often for months. What is the best way of coping with the ‘waiting stress’ –
the stress of uncertainty?
A new study in the
journal Emotion documents how people manage stress while waiting for
‘high-stakes’ results, such as examination results, the results of a medical
test, or the outcome of a business proposal when the period of uncertainty
could drag on and on (New York Times,
November 2, 2105).
Kate Sweeny, associate
professor of psychology at the University of California in America, focused on
the waiting period, when a person is uncertain and powerless to affect the
outcome – possibly a life-changing outcome. She looked at their coping
mechanisms – how to cope with the stress of uncertainty.
The researchers
surveyed 230 law graduates frequently during the four-month wait for their
results, and after the California bar exam in July 2013. Researchers studied
their coping mechanisms – such as yoga, exercise, work, watching television,
talking with friends, drinking, taking the dog for a walk, and so on.
During the waiting
period, researchers found that the people who tried coping techniques failed
significantly at suppressing stress and distress. They found that immersive
activities were more successful distractions than passive activities. Immersive
activities included video games, household chores, work, cleaning, and
gardening. Passive activities included watching television. Virtually no
activity reduced the person’s anxiety over the long-term.
The coping mechanisms
formed three types:
(1) suppressing anxiety
and worry (but the more people tried not to think about the outcome, the more
aware they were of the possible alternatives of the outcome),
(2) thinking only of a
good outcome (even if they failed the examination they thought of positive
directions or outcomes from the bad news – called ‘defensive posturing’), and
(3) hoping for the
best but preparing for the worst (these people worried constructively, called
‘defensive pessimism’ or ‘proactive coping’ – i.e. they had contingency plans).
The first two coping mechanisms
were associated with people who tried not to worry – they were more relaxed. The
third group – the worriers – set their expectations low and thought through the
negative possibilities.
When the news of the
results arrived, the worriers had different emotions than the relaxed people.
If the news was good – the worriers were more elated than the relaxed people.
If the news was bad – the worriers were better prepared to handle the bad news
than the relaxed people. They were ready with productive, reasonable responses.
The non-worriers (the
relaxed waiters) were those that has less negative emotions – they tried not to
think about the outcome – and they were less prepared to receive the news. They
were shattered and paralyzed by the bad news. When they received good news,
they felt underwhelmed.
The study highlighted
the importance of elation – the thrill of good news, when the person is free
from worry. Worrying may help in the long-term because it prepares a person for
the good and bad news, and there is a greater sense of relief or elation when
the good news arrives. If there is no good news, they can handle it better.
However, this study
did not look at the parents and friends of the worrying waiters!
The researchers
suggest that instead of singing ‘Don’t worry be happy’ perhaps examination
waiters should be singing ‘Don’t be happy, worry.’
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