title: Manipulating cardiovascular indices of challenge and threat using resource appraisals.
abstract: Challenge and threat reflect two distinct psychophysiological approaches to motivated performance situations. Challenge is related to superior performance in a range of tasks compared to threat, thus methods to promote challenge are valuable. In this paper we manipulate challenge and threat cardiovascular reactivity using only resource appraisals, without altering perceived task demands between challenge and threat conditions. Study 1 used a competitive throwing task and Study 2 used a physically demanding climbing task. In both studies challenge task instructions led to challenge cardiovascular reactivity and threat task instructions led to threat cardiovascular reactivity. In Study 1, participants who received challenge instructions performed better than participants who received threat instructions. In Study 2, attendance at the climbing task did not differ across groups. The findings have implications for stress management in terms of focusing on manipulating appraisals of upcoming tasks by promoting self-efficacy and perceived control and focusing on approach goals. Future research could more reliably assess the influence of similar task instructions on performance.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sport, Health, and Exercise Research, Staffordshire University, B128, Brindley Building, Leek Road, Stoke On Trent, Staffordshire ST4 2DF, UK. Electronic address: martin.turner@staffs.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sport, Health, and Exercise Research, Staffordshire University, B128, Brindley Building, Leek Road, Stoke On Trent, Staffordshire ST4 2DF, UK. Electronic address: marc.jones@staffs.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Marc V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Centre for Psychological Research, Faculty of Education, Health and Sciences, University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby DE22 1GB, UK. Electronic address: D.Sheffield@derby.ac.uk.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sheffield
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sport, Health, and Exercise Research, Staffordshire University, B128, Brindley Building, Leek Road, Stoke On Trent, Staffordshire ST4 2DF, UK. Electronic address: J.B.Barker@staffs.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jamie B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.affiliation: School of Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK. Electronic address: peter.coffee@stir.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coffee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Biopsychosocial model; Cardiovascular reactivity; Cognitive appraisal; Emotion; Theory of Challenge and Threat States in Athletes