Overview

The Rethink Stress Intervention is designed to help individuals adopt the mindset that stress can enhance our health, well-being, and performance. The Rethink Stress Intervention has been shown to be effective at shifting stress mindsets in multiple studies (see below for publications using the intervention). 

Materials

Several versions of the Rethink Stress Intervention have been created, so please review the materials listed here to determine which is best suited to your needs. 

Rethink Stress E-Training

The Rethink Stress e-training is an hour-long online course, split into 6 modules that discuss the nature of stress, the power of mindsets, and strategies for adopting more beneficial mindsets towards stress. In addition to videos and reflection questions, the e-training also includes the Stress Mindset Measure and other questionnaires assessing relevant psychological variables. As a result, the e-training is ideal for research purposes, as well as organizational and personal use.

To check out the e-training, click here. To view only the e-training videos (without the reflection questions and questionnaires), click here. 

If you are interested in using the e-training for research or organizational workshops, please reach out to us at mbl_contact@stanford.edu. In addition, we also offer in-person stress mindset workshops for organizations, led by our lab members. 

If you're interested in translating any of the materials from the e-training for research or educational purposes, please contact us at mbl_contact@stanford.edu. 

Rethinking Stress Toolkit

The Rethinking Stress Toolkit was created in collaboration with Stanford SPARQ as a more accessible version of the e-training that is best suited to organizational, educational, and personal use. The toolkit covers the same content as the e-training, but does not include the Stress Mindset Measure or other questionnaires that are most useful in research contexts. The toolkit can be completed entirely online or accompanied by downloadable workbooks for participants to use in their reflection activities.

To check out the Rethinking Stress Toolkit, please click here. No permissions are required to use the toolkit for educational or organizational purposes. 

MIT Stress Mindset Intervention

The MIT Stress Mindset Intervention consists of a set of PowerPoint slides that discuss the nature of stress and the benefits of adopting a stress-is-enhancing mindset, along with an accompanying workbook that participants can use to complete reflection activities. 

To download the PowerPoint slides, click here. To download the workbook, click here. 

Associated Measures

The Stress Mindset Measure is an 8-item scale used to measure whether participants see stress as enhancing or debilitating. For more information on Stress Mindset Measure - Adult Version, click here. For more information on the Stress Mindset Measure - Youth Version, click here. 

Publications

*Goyer, J. P., Akinola, M., Grunberg, R., & Crum, A. J. (2021). Thriving Under Pressure: The Effects of Stress-Related Wise Interventions on Affect, Sleep, and Exam Performance for College Students from Disadvantaged Backgrounds. Emotion. (DOWNLOAD) | (VIEW ON PUBLISHER'S SITE)

Jamieson, J. P., Crum, A. J., *Goyer, J. P., Marotta, M. E., & Akinola, M. (2018). Optimizing stress responses with reappraisal and mindset interventions: An integrated model. Anxiety, Stress and Coping. (DOWNLOAD) | (VIEW ON PUBLISHER'S SITE)

Crum, A. J., Akinola, M., Martin, A., & Fath, S. (2017). The Role of Stress Mindset in Shaping Cognitive, Emotional, and Physiological Responses to Challenging and Threatening Stress. Anxiety, Stress and Coping. (DOWNLOAD) | (VIEW ON PUBLISHER'S SITE)

Crum, A. J., Salovey, P. & Achor, S. (2013). Rethinking Stress: The Role of Mindsets in Determining the Stress Response. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. (DOWNLOAD) | (VIEW ON PUBLISHER'S SITE)

Crum, A. J., Salovey, P, & Achor, S. (2011). Evaluating a mindset training program to unleash the enhancing nature of stress. Academy of Management Proceedings. (DOWNLOAD) | (VIEW ON PUBLISHER'S SITE)