title: Stress state mediation between environmental variables and performance: the case of noise and vigilance.
abstract: Effects of environmental variables on performance may be mediated by individual stress states. In this study the effects of jet-aircraft engine noise and signal salience on vigilance performance and self-reported stress state were examined. One hundred and ninety-two (96 female and 96 male) participants were randomly assigned to four experimental conditions consisting of 48 participants each resulting from the factorial combination of signal salience (high and low salience signals) and noise (95 dBA intermittent aircraft noise or quiet). Performance metrics and self-reported stress state (Task Engagement, Distress, and Worry) were collected. Performance in the noise conditions was significantly better than in the quiet conditions. Performance in the high salience conditions was significantly better than the low salience conditions. Noise elevated Task Engagement and low signal salience elevated Distress. Moreover, structural equation model analyses were used to examine stress state mediation between the experimental variables and performance. These analyses indicated Engagement mediates between noise and vigilance performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand. deak_helton@yahoo.com
authors.forename: William S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Helton
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: Joel S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Warm
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult