Abstract
People tend to prefer immediate rewards over rewards available only in the future, even when the latter rewards are larger. This phenomenon is known as temporal discounting. In this study, we examined how temporal discounting relates to both acute and trait level stress as well as mental health related distress (e.g., anxiety and depression symptom severity). Participants (N=120) were randomly assigned to listen to either a calming piece of music or a stress-inducing piece of music while making a series of choices between immediate and delayed rewards (e.g., $10 now or $20 in a month). After, participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing their trait stress and anxiety and depression symptom severity. We found participants engaged in more temporal discounting while listening to stressful music than calm music, but the difference was not statistically significant. Current self-reported stress was also associated with increased temporal discounting, but only in the calm music condition. We did not find associations between temporal discounting and measures of trait stress or anxiety and depression symptom severity. Studying delayed discounting broadened my knowledge of how people approach simple and complex decisions in life, as well as how stress and mental health symptomatology relate to risk-taking and decision-making behaviors.
Publication Date
Spring 4-1-2025
Journal Title
Inquiry Journal
Mentor
Jolie Wormwood
Publisher
Durham, NH: Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research, University of New Hampshire
Document Type
Research Brief
Recommended Citation
Wittemann, Amanda, "Stress, Mental Health, and Their Role in Reward-Based Decision-Making" (2025). Inquiry Journal. 13.
https://scholars.unh.edu/inquiry_spring_2025/13