---
_id: '13633'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: Are social stress reactions dependent on the group identities of interaction
    partners? This study explored the role of ethnic context in modulating endocrine
    stress responses using a virtual reality (VR)-based adaptation of a standardized
    stress induction protocol, the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST-VR). Previous research
    found no clear link between endocrine stress response and ethnic context in the
    TSST, but conclusions remain limited due to the quasi-experimental nature of manipulating
    ethnic context in real-life face-to-face interactions. The VR adaptation of the
    TSST circumvents quasi-experimental limitations and thus provides a first, randomized-controlled
    investigation of the effects of ethnic context on endocrine stress responses.
    Forty-three men participated in the study, facing either an ingroup ("White")
    or an outgroup ("Arab") panel of interviewers. As expected, the TSST-VR produced
    physiological and subjective stress reactions. However, endocrine stress reactions
    occurred independent of interviewer ethnicity and could not be predicted based
    on implicit bias, explicit prejudice, or prejudice-related appearance concerns.
    Other physiological and subjective stress reactivity parameters also remained
    comparable across intergroup conditions. Implications for stress research are
    discussed.
article_number: '105970'
author:
- first_name: Georg
  full_name: Halbeisen, Georg
  id: '85780'
  last_name: Halbeisen
  orcid: 0000-0002-9529-2215
- first_name: Gregor
  full_name: Domes, Gregor
  last_name: Domes
- first_name: Eva
  full_name: Walther, Eva
  last_name: Walther
citation:
  ama: Halbeisen G, Domes G, Walther E. Is stress colorblind? Exploring endocrine
    stress responses in intergroup contexts using a virtual reality-based Trier Social
    Stress Test (TSST-VR). <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i>. 2022;147. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105970">10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105970</a>
  apa: Halbeisen, G., Domes, G., &#38; Walther, E. (2022). Is stress colorblind? Exploring
    endocrine stress responses in intergroup contexts using a virtual reality-based
    Trier Social Stress Test (TSST-VR). <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i>, <i>147</i>,
    Article 105970. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105970">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105970</a>
  bjps: <b>Halbeisen G, Domes G and Walther E</b> (2022) Is Stress Colorblind? Exploring
    Endocrine Stress Responses in Intergroup Contexts Using a Virtual Reality-Based
    Trier Social Stress Test (TSST-VR). <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i> <b>147</b>.
  chicago: Halbeisen, Georg, Gregor Domes, and Eva Walther. “Is Stress Colorblind?
    Exploring Endocrine Stress Responses in Intergroup Contexts Using a Virtual Reality-Based
    Trier Social Stress Test (TSST-VR).” <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i> 147 (2022).
    <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105970">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105970</a>.
  chicago-de: Halbeisen, Georg, Gregor Domes und Eva Walther. 2022. Is stress colorblind?
    Exploring endocrine stress responses in intergroup contexts using a virtual reality-based
    Trier Social Stress Test (TSST-VR). <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i> 147. doi:<a
    href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105970">10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105970</a>,
    .
  din1505-2-1: '<span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Halbeisen, Georg</span> ; <span
    style="font-variant:small-caps;">Domes, Gregor</span> ; <span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Walther,
    Eva</span>: Is stress colorblind? Exploring endocrine stress responses in intergroup
    contexts using a virtual reality-based Trier Social Stress Test (TSST-VR). In:
    <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i> Bd. 147, Elsevier BV (2022)'
  havard: G. Halbeisen, G. Domes, E. Walther, Is stress colorblind? Exploring endocrine
    stress responses in intergroup contexts using a virtual reality-based Trier Social
    Stress Test (TSST-VR), Psychoneuroendocrinology. 147 (2022).
  ieee: 'G. Halbeisen, G. Domes, and E. Walther, “Is stress colorblind? Exploring
    endocrine stress responses in intergroup contexts using a virtual reality-based
    Trier Social Stress Test (TSST-VR),” <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i>, vol. 147,
    Art. no. 105970, 2022, doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105970">10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105970</a>.'
  mla: Halbeisen, Georg, et al. “Is Stress Colorblind? Exploring Endocrine Stress
    Responses in Intergroup Contexts Using a Virtual Reality-Based Trier Social Stress
    Test (TSST-VR).” <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i>, vol. 147, 105970, 2022, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105970">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105970</a>.
  short: G. Halbeisen, G. Domes, E. Walther, Psychoneuroendocrinology 147 (2022).
  ufg: '<b>Halbeisen, Georg/Domes, Gregor/Walther, Eva</b>: Is stress colorblind?
    Exploring endocrine stress responses in intergroup contexts using a virtual reality-based
    Trier Social Stress Test (TSST-VR), in: <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i> 147 (2022).'
  van: Halbeisen G, Domes G, Walther E. Is stress colorblind? Exploring endocrine
    stress responses in intergroup contexts using a virtual reality-based Trier Social
    Stress Test (TSST-VR). Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2022;147.
date_created: 2026-03-27T10:06:34Z
date_updated: 2026-04-10T09:03:57Z
department:
- _id: DEP1500
doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105970
extern: '1'
external_id:
  isi:
  - '000890474100008'
  pmid:
  - '36368123'
intvolume: '       147'
isi: '1'
language:
- iso: eng
pmid: '1'
publication: Psychoneuroendocrinology
publication_identifier:
  eissn:
  - 1873-3360
  issn:
  - 0306-4530
publication_status: published
publisher: Elsevier BV
quality_controlled: '1'
status: public
title: Is stress colorblind? Exploring endocrine stress responses in intergroup contexts
  using a virtual reality-based Trier Social Stress Test (TSST-VR)
type: scientific_journal_article
user_id: '83778'
volume: 147
year: '2022'
...
---
_id: '13578'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: In recent years, virtual reality (VR) technology has found its way into nearly
    all fields of psychology. Previous studies indicated that virtual reality adaptations
    of the TSST are less potent in stimulating HPA-axis responses, with lower salivary
    cortisol responses recorded as compared to the in-vivo TSST. (TSST-IV). In the
    present experiment we tested the stress-induction potential of a refined version
    of the TSST-VR using a fully orthogonal experimental design in which ninety-three
    healthy males were either assigned to the TSST condition or a corresponding control
    condition in a real or virtual environment. We found a significant increase of
    endocrine, autonomic and self-reported stress markers in both stress conditions.
    Notably, we found a robust rise in salivary cortisol to the TSST-VR comparable
    to that observed in the TSST-IV. Despite subtle differences in response between
    virtual and in vivo settings, we conclude that VR adaptations of in-vivo stressors
    have the potential to induce real physiological and subjective reactions.
author:
- first_name: Patrick
  full_name: Zimmer, Patrick
  last_name: Zimmer
- first_name: Benjamin
  full_name: Buttlar, Benjamin
  last_name: Buttlar
- first_name: Georg
  full_name: Halbeisen, Georg
  id: '85780'
  last_name: Halbeisen
  orcid: 0000-0002-9529-2215
- first_name: Eva
  full_name: Walther, Eva
  last_name: Walther
- first_name: ' Gregor'
  full_name: Domes,  Gregor
  last_name: Domes
citation:
  ama: Zimmer P, Buttlar B, Halbeisen G, Walther E, Domes  Gregor. Virtually stressed?
    A refined virtual reality adaptation of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) induces
    robust endocrine responses. <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i>. 2019;101(3):186-192.
    doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010">10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010</a>
  apa: Zimmer, P., Buttlar, B., Halbeisen, G., Walther, E., &#38; Domes,  Gregor.
    (2019). Virtually stressed? A refined virtual reality adaptation of the Trier
    Social Stress Test (TSST) induces robust endocrine responses. <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i>,
    <i>101</i>(3), 186–192. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010</a>
  bjps: <b>Zimmer P <i>et al.</i></b> (2019) Virtually Stressed? A Refined Virtual
    Reality Adaptation of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) Induces Robust Endocrine
    Responses. <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i> <b>101</b>, 186–192.
  chicago: 'Zimmer, Patrick, Benjamin Buttlar, Georg Halbeisen, Eva Walther, and  Gregor
    Domes. “Virtually Stressed? A Refined Virtual Reality Adaptation of the Trier
    Social Stress Test (TSST) Induces Robust Endocrine Responses.” <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i>
    101, no. 3 (2019): 186–92. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010</a>.'
  chicago-de: 'Zimmer, Patrick, Benjamin Buttlar, Georg Halbeisen, Eva Walther und  Gregor
    Domes. 2019. Virtually stressed? A refined virtual reality adaptation of the Trier
    Social Stress Test (TSST) induces robust endocrine responses. <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i>
    101, Nr. 3: 186–192. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010">10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010</a>,
    .'
  din1505-2-1: '<span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Zimmer, Patrick</span> ; <span
    style="font-variant:small-caps;">Buttlar, Benjamin</span> ; <span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Halbeisen,
    Georg</span> ; <span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Walther, Eva</span> ; <span
    style="font-variant:small-caps;">Domes,  Gregor</span>: Virtually stressed? A
    refined virtual reality adaptation of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) induces
    robust endocrine responses. In: <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i> Bd. 101. Amsterdam
    [u.a.], Elsevier (2019), Nr. 3, S. 186–192'
  havard: P. Zimmer, B. Buttlar, G. Halbeisen, E. Walther,  Gregor Domes, Virtually
    stressed? A refined virtual reality adaptation of the Trier Social Stress Test
    (TSST) induces robust endocrine responses, Psychoneuroendocrinology. 101 (2019)
    186–192.
  ieee: 'P. Zimmer, B. Buttlar, G. Halbeisen, E. Walther, and  Gregor Domes, “Virtually
    stressed? A refined virtual reality adaptation of the Trier Social Stress Test
    (TSST) induces robust endocrine responses,” <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i>, vol.
    101, no. 3, pp. 186–192, 2019, doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010">10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010</a>.'
  mla: Zimmer, Patrick, et al. “Virtually Stressed? A Refined Virtual Reality Adaptation
    of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) Induces Robust Endocrine Responses.” <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i>,
    vol. 101, no. 3, 2019, pp. 186–92, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010</a>.
  short: P. Zimmer, B. Buttlar, G. Halbeisen, E. Walther,  Gregor Domes, Psychoneuroendocrinology
    101 (2019) 186–192.
  ufg: '<b>Zimmer, Patrick u. a.</b>: Virtually stressed? A refined virtual reality
    adaptation of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) induces robust endocrine responses,
    in: <i>Psychoneuroendocrinology</i> 101 (2019), H. 3,  S. 186–192.'
  van: Zimmer P, Buttlar B, Halbeisen G, Walther E, Domes  Gregor. Virtually stressed?
    A refined virtual reality adaptation of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) induces
    robust endocrine responses. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2019;101(3):186–92.
date_created: 2026-03-25T13:36:07Z
date_updated: 2026-04-08T13:49:27Z
department:
- _id: DEP1500
doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.010
extern: '1'
external_id:
  isi:
  - '000459840000024'
  pmid:
  - '30469086'
intvolume: '       101'
isi: '1'
issue: '3'
keyword:
- Psychological stress
- Virtual reality
- Trier Social Stress Test
- Free salivary cortisol
- Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis
- Alpha amylase
language:
- iso: eng
page: 186-192
place: Amsterdam [u.a.]
pmid: '1'
publication: Psychoneuroendocrinology
publication_identifier:
  eissn:
  - 1873-3360
  issn:
  - 0306-4530
publication_status: published
publisher: Elsevier
quality_controlled: '1'
status: public
title: Virtually stressed? A refined virtual reality adaptation of the Trier Social
  Stress Test (TSST) induces robust endocrine responses
type: scientific_journal_article
user_id: '83781'
volume: 101
year: '2019'
...