Comparison of a one- vs. two-session online version of the Trier Social Stress Test

In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have validated both one-session and two-session online versions of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST-OL). In a sample of 82 first-generation college students aged 18-25 from across the U.S. (M_age = 22.30; 75.61 % female; 34.15 % White, 15.85 % Black, 30.49 % Asian, 9.76 % Multiracial, 7.32 % other), we investigated the comparative effectiveness of a one-session and two-session version of the TSST-OL at eliciting a biological stress response. We found no significant differences between the one-session and two-session protocol with respect to cortisol reactivity (i.e., change from baseline to peak, area under the curve with respect to increase, sample peak, and likelihood of demonstrating a response) and self-reported stress during the TSST-OL. The findings indicate that both protocols may be effective at eliciting a stress response. Researchers should consider utilizing a one-session TSST-OL protocol to increase researcher feasibility and make participation more accessible, thereby increasing the representativeness of samples.