Abstract

GARCIA, Hécmy; HERNANDEZ, Melba  and  PEINADO, Sofía. Respuestas psicofisiológicas y cognitivas ante situaciones estresantes en estudiantes de la universidad Simón Bolívar. RFM [online]. 2009, vol.32, n.2, pp.107-112. ISSN 0798-0469.

In this investigation of the Cardiovascular Response to Stress, Perceived Task Difficulty and physiological responding were measured. The study used a sample of 115 undergraduate students of a Simon Bolivar University. Results show that a great elevation of heart rate and blood pressure was observed during exposure to the two versions of the Stroop Test (classical and computerized). In general, ratings of perceived difficulty of the Stroop task were higher in response to the Classical administration. Finally, subjects rated their Computer Self-Efficacy as high, indicating confidence and comfort working with computers. These results represent an important contribution that illustrate the relation of cognitive factors to physiological responses during cognitively demanding or difficult situations. In terms of the practical implications of these findings, situations experienced in academic environments can have a prominent impact in cardiovascular responding, and thus, health. As such, it is indicating that the medium of academic assessment might be an appropriate target for change in some settings for the benefit of the Student.

Keywords : Cardiovascular response to stress; Perceived difficulty of the task; Computational self-efficacy.