“We” are not stressed: Social identity in groups buffers neuroendocrine stress reactions

• Published in: Journal of experimental social psychology 2012-07, Vol.48 (4), p.973-977
• Main Authors: Häusser, Jan Alexander, Kattenstroth, Maren, van Dick, Rolf, Mojzisch, Andreas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cortisol; Evaluation; Group dynamics; Groups; Identity; Manipulation; Mental stress; Physiological psychology; Psychological effects; Psychophysiology; Social identity; Social psychology; Social support; Social-evaluative threat; Stress
• ISSN: 0022-1031; 1096-0465
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jesp.2012.02.020

The presence of others in threatening situations can be a mixed blessing since it is not always perceived as supportive but can also impair well-being. Building on the social identity approach, we tested the idea that the presence of others has a buffering effect on neuroendocrine stress reactions only if a sense of shared social identity is evoked. Therefore, the salience of social versus personal identity was manipulated. To induce social-evaluative stress, the Trier Social Stress Test for groups (TSST-G) was employed, while in the control conditions the Placebo-TSST-G was used. As predicted, social identity salience attenuated the stress-induced cortisol reaction in the TSST-G condition. By contrast, there was no effect of identity salience in the Placebo-TSST-G conditions. These findings provide the first experimental evidence for the idea that being part of a group buffers neuroendocrine stress only if group members develop a sense of shared social identity. ► We examined shared social Identity as a buffer of socio-evaluative threat. ► Social versus personal identity was manipulated. ► Trier Social Stress Test versus placebo Trier Social Stress Test was used as stress manipulation. ► Psychological and neuroendocrinological (cortisol) stress responses. ► Main result was that social identity buffered cortisol responses.