The Vocal Acoustic Correlates of Stress and the Interactional Effects of Personality: An Extended Research Proposal

Abstract

Psychological stress influences the way people speak, more specifically the acoustic parameters of voice. These changes in acoustic parameters may have a detrimental effect on the voice, increasing the risk of the development of voice disorders. Previous studies have provided evidence of vocal acoustic correlates of stress. However, most of these fail to take into consideration personality type, despite evidence that personality is an important factor in determining the effects of stress in an individual. Additionally, those studies that consider personality have only examined a small number of acoustic parameters. This proposal aims to take into consideration personality type, by examining neuroticism and conscientiousness, within a wider range of acoustic parameters, namely mean F0, maximum F0, F0 floor, SDF0, jitter and shimmer. A field study approach will be proposed making use of the Smartphone application Voicecheck in order to collect data of naturally occurring stress. Three stress levels will be analysed, baseline, mild stress and high stress, to examine any vocal acoustic correlates within both personality types. Results from this study will provide better knowledge of the vocal acoustic correlates of stress. Having better knowledge of these correlates will aid in the prevention of voice disorders. Prevention will not only be cost effective but will increase productivity within workplaces, increase health and reduce the secondary effects of voice disorders. This study could contribute to improvements in health and wellbeing and within health and safety policies in the workplace, particularly in professional voice users. Investigating personality will also add to the evidence base for clinicians working within voice clinics. Results will allow clinicians to consider vulnerability to stress dependent on the individual's personality type and how this may increase their risk of psychogenic voice disorders as well as contributing towards reoccurrence.