Faculty Sponsor, if applicable
Dr. Yan Li, Dr. Joseph Chen
Project Abstract
The present study is an experimental design that aims at examining the relationships among stress, aggression, and acculturation. The sample included 119 people including 59 Caucasians and 60 Asians. Their ages ranged from 18 to 38 (M = 20.74, SD = 2.65). Participants’ self-reported stress at Time 3 (immediately after being exposed to the stressful situation) mediated the effect of stress at Time 1 (baseline stress) on hostility at Time 3 (B = .10, CI[.05, .17]). This effect was larger for Asians (B = .14, CI[.05, .27]) compared to Caucasians (B = .06, CI[.0038, .14]). For Asians, heart rate at Time 3 also mediated the effect of heart rate at Time 1 on hostility at Time 3 (B = .0097, CI[.0016, .02]), but for Caucasians, this mediation was not significant (B = -.0012, CI[-.01, .0023]). Asian participants also responded to the Asian Values Scale-Revised, a higher score on which indicated higher adherence to Asian values and less acculturation. Results from multiple regression displayed a significant interaction effect of Time 1 Stress and Asian values on Time 3 Stress (B = 1.07, p = .01), but the interaction term of Time 3 Stress and Asian values on hostility did not appear significant (B = .16, p = .45). Results from simple slopes analysis suggested that for less acculturated Asians, the effect of Time 1 stress on hostility mediated by Time 3 stress was greater (B = .26, CI[.08, .51] at 1SD) compared to more acculturated Asians (B = .05, CI[-.03, .20] at -1SD). Asian values also moderated the effect of Time 3 heart rate on hostility (B = -.05, p = .02). Simple slope analysis suggested that for less acculturated Asians, the effect of Time 1 heart rate on hostility mediated by Time 3 heart rate was lesser (B = .0001, CI[-.02, .02] at 1SD) compared to more acculturated Asians (B = .02, CI[.0050, .05] at -1SD).
Type of Research
Graduate Student
Preview
Presentation Year
2022