title: The influence of motivation on stress: is it stressful not to fit?
abstract: The present research elaborates on the regulatory fit hypothesis by investigating a biological stress marker in a motivational fit- and non-fit-situation. Recent stress theories lead to the assumption that the participants' stress level in fit-situations remains constant or rather decreases, whereas under non-fit-conditions an increase of the stress activity is observed. We tested this hypothesis by assessment of salivary α-amylase (sAA), a saliva-based stress marker presumed to reflect noradrenergic activity. The results indicated that participants in a fit-situation show a decrease in sAA, whereas participants in a non-fit-situation demonstrate a contrary effect with an increase in sAA. These findings extend the concept of regulatory fit by illustrating that there are differences in sAA activity depending on whether participants are in a fit-situation. The experience of regulatory fit appears to be associated with a reduction of stress.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Cognitive and Team/Racket Sport Research, German Sport University Cologne , Köln , Germany and.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schwab
authors.affiliation: b Department of Cognitive Psychology , Ruhr-University Bochum , Bochum , Germany.
authors.forename: Oliver T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Cognitive and Team/Racket Sport Research, German Sport University Cologne , Köln , Germany and.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Memmert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D055291:Salivary alpha-Amylases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000068356:Self-Control / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D055291:Salivary alpha-Amylases
keywords: motivation; stress; α-Amylase