Teens with increased anxiety take longer to bounce back from daily stressors

What is it about?

Experiencing negative emotions in response to a stressor is natural. However, effectively recovering from this state (i.e., reducing negative emotions) once the stressor passes is crucial for well-being. Difficulties in this recovery process may be associated with broader psychopathology. This article examines the relationship between anxiety symptoms in youth and the time required to recover after exposure to daily stressors.

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Photo by Christian Erfurt on Unsplash

Photo by Christian Erfurt on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Our findings identify moments of heightened vulnerability in the daily lives of anxious youth, showing that adolescents with increased anxiety are exposed to the harmful effects of prolonged stress responses. Effectively bouncing back from stress is crucial, especially during adolescence—a time of significant biological, social, and emotional changes that require adaptation and can trigger stress. Our research serves as an important first step toward developing personalized interventions that prevent the negative effects of prolonged stress in real time. One promising approach is Ecological Momentary Interventions (EMIs)—personalized e-health methods designed to provide support directly in daily life. EMIs could help promote skills that facilitate faster recovery or offer tailored suggestions for effective emotion regulation strategies immediately after a stressor.