The present research examined the immediate impact of challenge and threat states on golf performance in both real competition and a laboratory-based task. In Study 1, 199 experienced golfers reported their evaluations of competition demands and personal coping resources before a golf competition. Evaluating the competition as a challenge (i.e., sufficient resources to cope with demands) was associated with superior performance. In Study 2, 60 experienced golfers randomly received challenge or threat manipulation instructions and then performed a competitive golf-putting task. Challenge and threat states were successfully manipulated and the challenge group outperformed the threat group. Furthermore, the challenge group reported less anxiety, more facilitative interpretations of anxiety, less conscious processing, and displayed longer quiet eye durations. However, these variables failed to mediate the group–performance relationship. These studies demonstrate the importance of considering preperformance psychophysiological states when examining the influence of competitive pressure on motor performance.

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) has emerged as a potential non-invasive ergogenic aid to enhance exercise performance. Repeated application of IPC has demonstrated clinical efficacy, therefore our aims were to investigate its effect on endurance cycling performance and muscle efficiency. Twenty participants undertook 7-d repeated bilateral lower limb occlusion (4 x 5min) of IPC (220 mmHg) or sham (20 mmHg). Prior to and 72-h following the intervention, participants performed submaximal cycling at 70, 80 and 90 % of ventilatory threshold (VT) followed by an incremental exercise test. IPC had no effect on ̇O 2max (P = 0.110); however, time to exhaustion increased by ~ 9 % and Wmax by ~ 5 % (IPC pre 307 ± 45 to post 323 ± 51 W) relative to sham (P = 0.002). There were no changes in gross efficiency (GE) (P > 0.05); however, delta efficiency (DE) increased by 3.1 % following IPC (P = 0.011). Deoxyhaemoglobin (HHb) was reduced following IPC ~ 30% (P = 0.017) with no change in total haemoglobin (tHb). Repeated IPC over 7-d enhanced muscle efficiency and extended cycling performance. The physiological effects of repeated IPC on skeletal muscle efficiency explains the notable improvements in endurance performance.

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Police employees are exposed to a variety of complex, work-related stressors and are susceptible to experiencing reduced psychological wellbeing. To advance understanding of the personal and social factors underpinning psychological wellbeing in this population, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between psychological wellbeing, perceived support from colleagues, received support from colleagues and personality factors in police employees. A sample of 381 police employees from a county police force in England completed an online questionnaire assessing: psychological wellbeing; perceived support; received support; and personality factors. Psychological wellbeing was significantly and positively associated with perceived support from colleagues, received support from colleagues, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness to experience. Further investigation of these relationships using multiple logistic regression analysis found that perceived support from colleagues, received support from colleagues, extraversion, and emotional stability significantly predicted psychological wellbeing. Given growing concerns about psychological wellbeing in police forces, the findings could help to inform the promotion of psychological wellbeing across operational and non-operational police employees. The results suggest that increasing both perceptions of available support and the amount of support received among employees in police forces is important for enhancing psychological wellbeing in this population. Furthermore, police employees with lower levels of extraversion and emotional stability should also be considered for additional support to promote psychological wellbeing.