Relationship between cynical hostility and primary emotional appraisal of a stressful situation of academic test
Authors: Michalina Sęktas, Patryk Krzyżaniak, Aleksandra Raczyńska, Paweł Andrzej Atroszko
Abstract: The conducted research aimed to investigate the association between cynical hostility and primary emotional appraisal of a stressful situation of academic test. The level of temporarily perceived stress was also measured. Based on previous findings, it was hypothesised that cynical hostility is positively related to perceived stress right before the academic test as well as to harm-loss and threat cognitive appraisals, and negatively related to challenge/benefit appraisal. The sample consisted of 139 university students (124 women, 15 men). Mean age was M = 20.72 years (SD = 1.69). Valid and reliable psychometric tools were applied. Not all hypotheses were substantiated. Cynical hostility was positively associated with harm-loss appraisals, negatively related to challenge/benefit appraisal and not related to threat appraisal and test stress. Obtained results depict a consistent pattern of hostile emotional and cognitive functioning, which concentrates on perceiving danger, mostly negative aspects of encountered situations and experiencing negative affect, while ignoring potential chances for personal growth, gain and development.
Publ: Research and Development of Young Scientists in Poland. Humanities and social sciences