What the study found
The study found that willingness to wait, described as an individual's discount factor, changed reliably over seconds in response to endogenous stress but did not show the same variation over days.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that these findings matter for understanding how stress affects economic decisions made at different time scales. They suggest that fluctuations in stress responses to the environment may help explain consumer behaviors such as impulse purchases, even among healthy adults.
What the researchers tested
The researchers used a multi-session design with 34 participants to examine whether chronic stress measures were associated with economic choices across different time scales within the same people. They measured chronic stress using questionnaires, saliva, and hair samples.
What worked and what didn't
The degree to which people thought waiting was worthwhile varied reliably over seconds in response to endogenous stress. It did not vary over days in the same way. The abstract also notes that little was known before this study about how chronic stress influences decisions about immediate versus delayed rewards.
What to keep in mind
The abstract gives no detailed limitations beyond the small sample size of 34 participants. It also does not provide full information on the task design, effect sizes, or whether the findings generalize beyond this study population.
Key points
- Endogenous stress was linked to changes in willingness to wait over seconds.
- The same measure did not vary reliably over days.
- The study used questionnaires, saliva, and hair samples to assess chronic stress.
- The sample included 34 participants in a multi-session design.
- The authors connect the findings to economic decisions such as impulse purchases.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Stress-related willingness to wait varied over seconds, not days
- Authors:
- Evgeniya Lukinova, Jeffrey C. Erlich
- Institutions:
- East China Normal University, New York University Shanghai, New York University Shanghai, Sainsbury Laboratory, University College London, University of Nottingham
- Publication date:
- 2026-01-13
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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