Chronic Stress, Hair Cortisol, and Risky Decision-Making Processes in Young Adults

Abstract

Components of risky decision making, such as risk perception, risk aversion, and risk taking may be impacted by chronic stress. Research suggests college students report higher chronic stress than non-student peers, however, it is unclear how the chronic stress of the pandemic may have differentially impacted these groups. Predicting risky decision making requires a nuanced understanding of how the experience and physiology of chronic stress impact choice cognitions. We assessed chronic stress, risk perception, risk aversion, and risk taking in 18-25 year old university students (N = 141) and age-matched non-student peers (N = 142). A subsample of university students (N = 57) provided hair samples to measure cortisol concentrations. We administered self-report chronic stress scales, the Domain Specific Risk Taking scale to assess risk cognitions, and the Balloon Analogue Risk Task to assess risk-taking. Contrary to previous research, non-students reported greater chronic stress and exhibited lower risk taking behavior compared to college students. Regardless of student status, higher self-reported chronic stress correlated with greater risk perception and lower risk aversion. Hair cortisol concentration was not related to either risk cognitions or risky behavior. Chronic stress influences decision making cognitions among young adults. The non-student sample reported more stress than university students, perhaps due to the economic and societal upheaval during the pandemic. Hair cortisol concentration was unrelated to chronic stress or decision making. Cortisol levels are influenced by many factors beyond chronic stress; it’s dysregulation may be reflected in both hyper- and hypo-reactivity.