Chronically Stressed Populations are More Likely to Exhibit Impulsive Mating Behaviors

Abstract

Stress research in North America typically uses non-human animals or college students as participants. By using only college students as participants, researchers may neglect environmental factors more stressful and longer lived than those typically experienced in a college environment. Hence, the purpose of the present study is to examine the characteristics of individuals who experience chronic stress in their everyday environment. We propose that chronic stressors sustained in a military environment have effects on behaviors associated with rule-governed sexual behavior, a relationship not documented in a general college student population. Three hundred and nine participants were recruited from a university campus and stratified into samples of average college students (those without affiliation to the US Armed Forces) and students affiliated with the US Armed Forces, including active duty/reserves/ROTC, veterans and their dependents (spouses/children). The data were obtained through remote self–reports of stress, impulsiveness, risk, and sexual behavior, which served as main factors, and life history strategy and mate value – which served as mitigating factors. We found no associations among self-report stress, risk taking, or short-term mating behaviors, but did find a negative association with impulsive behavior, within the US Armed Forces sample. Life history strategy and mate value also did not show a mediating effect. The average college student sample did show positive associations among self-reported stress, risk taking, impulsivity, and short-term mating behaviors, although life history strategy and mate value had no effect. Overall, students affiliated with the US Armed Forces reported less stress than the average college students and impulsive behavior was negatively correlated with the level of self-reported stress.