Psychosocial Resources, Affective Reactions, and Risk Taking Following Academic Stress among University Students

This study assessed the extent to which psychosocial resources are associated with negative affect, positive affect, and risk taking following stressful academic events among students. It was based on a secondary analysis of the data of 294 students. Participants completed questionnaires assessing dispositional optimism, sense of mastery, social support, positive and negative affect, risk-taking behaviors, social desirability, and demographic variables. The results showed that psychosocial resources were negatively associated with negative affect and risk taking, and positively associated with positive affect. Under high levels of stress appraisal, psychosocial resources demonstrated the highest negative association with risk taking. The results highlight the important role of psychosocial resources in lowering negative feelings and risk-taking behaviors as well as enhancing positive feelings following adversity.