3. 7. Serial mediation model test
To explore the function of HPA and SAM activation in stress-related
alterations in creativity and cognitive performance, three serial
mediation models were performed with PROCESS v4.0. The 95%
bias-corrected confidence intervals (CIs) were generated employing 5000
bootstrapping samples. The aim of the first model was to provide
evidence for the mediation of stress-induced HPA activation on
creativity. The second and third models were performed to verify the
role of the SAM axis in stress-influenced creativity. Before the serial
mediation model test, bivariate Pearson correlation analyses were
conducted on the physiological, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes (see
Table 1).
Table 1 Pearson correlation coefficients between group condition,
cortisol results, ocular results, cognitive flexibility, and creativity
performance.