Self-esteem moderates the effect of acute stresses on individuals' trust behaviors

The current study examined the moderating effect of self-esteem on the relationship between acute stress and individuals' trust behaviors. Specifically, one hundred and forty-seven participants were selected and randomly assigned to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) or the control condition after which performing the trust game. The results showed that participants' exposure to acute stress exhibited less investment in the trust game than their counterparts under the control condition. Moreover, although the main effects of RSA reactivity to the speech or math task were not significant, the effect of RSA reactivity to the speech task on the amount of investment in trust game was significantly moderated by individuals' self-esteem. Specifically, comparted with individuals with high self-esteem, for individuals with low self-esteem, their high RSA reactivity to acute stresses exhibited less amount invested in trust game. Thus, the findings of the current study reveal the moderating factors of self-esteem in the relationship between acute psychological stress and trust behaviors and provide some new information about the underlying physical mechanisms.