Social comparison and recovery from stress.

Abstract
Sixty-one male and 61 female undergraduate university students completed the Jenkins Activity Survey (Form T) and were then randomly assigned to either a social comparison or no social comparison group. Subjects in both conditions performed the Stroop colour word task under conditions stressing time urgency and competition. In addition, subjects in the social comparison group were informed that their scores would be compared to the scores of other subjects who had already participated in the study. Heart rate was recorded before, during and after performance of the task. The social comparison group showed significantly greater heart rate response during the task (p < .001) and significantly slower heart rate recovery following the task (p < .025). No A/B differences or sex differences were observed in heart rate response to or recovery from the task. These findings illustrate the importance of cognitive variables in determining the rate of recovery following stress.