Is Waiting the Hardest Part? Comparing the Emotional Experiences of Awaiting and Receiving Bad News

Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
Kate Sweeny, Angelica Falkenstein

Abstract

Awaiting uncertain news is stressful, but is it more stressful than receiving bad news? We compared these emotional experiences in two studies. Participants in Study 1 reflected on a personal experience awaiting news that ultimately turned out badly, and participants in Study 2 were law graduates awaiting their results on the bar exam who ultimately failed the exam. In Study 1, participants were ambivalent as to whether awaiting or receiving bad news was more difficult, and emotion ratings in both studies confirmed this ambivalence. Anxiety was higher in anticipation of bad news (at least at the moment of truth) than in the face of it, whereas other negative emotions were more intense following the news than during the waiting period. Thus, whether waiting is "the hardest part" depends on whether one prefers to be racked with anxiety or afflicted with other negative emotions such as anger, disappointment, depression, and regret.

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Citations

Mar 13, 2016·Journal of Behavioral Medicine·Jennifer L Howell, Kate Sweeny
Aug 12, 2015·Social Science & Medicine·Kate SweenyMegan L Robbins
Nov 20, 2016·Journal of Personality·Kate Sweeny, Angelica Falkenstein
Feb 16, 2019·Stress and Health : Journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress·Jennifer L Howell, Kate Sweeny
Aug 3, 2019·Stress and Health : Journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress·Kyla RankinSandra Xu
Sep 22, 2018·Annals of Behavioral Medicine : a Publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine·Kate SweenyJeanine McNeill
Mar 3, 2020·Frontiers in Psychology·Talea CorneliusHanoch Hod
May 11, 2018·Annals of Behavioral Medicine : a Publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine·Erin M EllisRebecca A Ferrer
Apr 26, 2020·Archives of Women's Mental Health·Andie ChernoffJennifer L Gordon
Sep 19, 2017·Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin·Kate Sweeny, Jennifer L Howell

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BETA
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