This study examined the impact of divided attention tasks on stress using physiologic measures. The divided attention conditions included speech tasks (conversation or procedural discourse) and non-speech computer-based tasks (visuospatial, mathematical, language, data entry, or text editing). Participants included 60 adults divided into two groups of 30 by age. The young adult group ranged in age from 18-30 years and the older adults ranged from 55-82 years. Participants were required to perform the speech task and the non-speech task in isolation as well as a speech task performed concurrently with each of the non-speech tasks. The order of the tasks was randomized between participants to reduce sequencing effects. Physiologic measures include heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and galvanic skin response (GSR) using a physiologic measurement system. Statistical analysis revealed age-related physiologic differences during the performance of all tasks. All GSR measures were significantly lower in older adults. Findings also provide insight into the physiologic response to dual-task conditions. The GSR levels were lower in concurrent conditions when compared to the conversation only tasks. Additionally, GSR levels increased during math tasks when compared to visuospatial or language tasks. The results provided insight into the physiologic response to divided attention tasks. The lack of a resting baseline condition and the effects of age on the dependent measures complicated the interpretation of the findings. Further research is needed to better understand the impact of divided attention tasks on a speaker’s physiologic stress response.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BGMYU2/oai:scholarsarchive.byu.edu:etd-11399 |
| Date | 28 May 2024 |
| Creators | Uluave, Kira Stefanie |
| Publisher | BYU ScholarsArchive |
| Source Sets | Brigham Young University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Theses and Dissertations |
| Rights | https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/ |
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