Mindset Matters—but It Isn’t Magic: New Research Tests Whether a ‘Stress-Is-Enhancing’ Mindset Improves Daily Performance

By David Wright

“Think positive” is not a performance strategy. But the way people interpret stress may still influence how they function under pressure. A newly published 2026 study examined whether a stress-is-enhancing mindset—the belief that stress can sometimes support growth or performance—changes the relationship between daily stress and cognitive function.

What researchers examined

Amanda A. Miller and colleagues used ecological momentary assessment, a method that samples people repeatedly in daily life rather than relying only on one retrospective questionnaire. Their focus was the relationship among stress mindset, perceived stress, and cognitive function.

The study builds on a broader research literature suggesting that people who see stress responses as potentially functional may respond differently to demanding situations. Importantly, this does not mean stress is always good, harmless, or something people should simply “reframe away.”

Mindset is one variable—not a magic switch

A 2024 meta-analysis of randomized trials found a small overall performance benefit from stress-reappraisal and stress-is-enhancing interventions, but stress-mindset-only interventions were not a universal solution. That distinction is useful for coaching: mindset can be trained, but it works best alongside skills, preparation, recovery, and realistic environmental changes.

A coaching-friendly way to work with pressure

1. Name the demand. Be specific about the task, deadline, decision, or audience creating pressure.
2. Separate arousal from catastrophe. A racing heart or heightened alertness can signal mobilization, not necessarily failure.
3. Choose a performance behavior. Ask: “What is the next observable action that would move this forward?”
4. Reduce preventable stressors. Better planning, sleep, boundaries, rehearsal, and communication often matter more than slogans.
5. Review the evidence afterward. What helped? What hurt? What can be trained?

Where coaching fits

Coaching can be especially useful when the challenge is not diagnosis or treatment, but translating goals into repeatable performance habits: preparation, self-talk, decision routines, accountability, recovery, and attention control.

Explore: Performance Coaching · Our Practices · Initial Consultation

Sources

Miller AA, Zavala DV, Luchetti M, et al. “Stress mindset, perceived stress, and the association with cognitive function using ecological momentary assessment.” Anxiety, Stress, & Coping. Published online September 10, 2026. PubMed.

Bosshard M, Gomez P. “Effectiveness of stress arousal reappraisal and stress-is-enhancing mindset interventions on task performance outcomes: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.” Scientific Reports. 2024. PubMed.

Educational information only. Coaching is not a substitute for medical or mental-health treatment when clinical care is needed.