No abstract

Task performance while sleep deprived may be moderated by the controlled attention required by the task (Pilcher, Band, Odle-Dusseau, & Muth, 2007). This study examined the effects of 28 h of sleep deprivation on respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) during tasks with low and high controlled attention demands. The results showed that RSA increased throughout the night for both task types, but was consistently reduced during the low compared to high controlled attention tasks. The increase in RSA was linear for the high controlled attention tasks but curvilinear for the low ones. Hence, RSA followed a circadian pattern during the low controlled attention tasks but not the high ones. These results suggest that the effects of sleep deprivation on task performance may be moderated by parasympathetic activity and task type, and this has implications for task assignment during sustained operations that cause sleep deprivation.

This research investigated nonhunting-hikers' response to social interactions with hunters in outdoor recreation settings. Hikers were presented with a hypothetical scenario describing a social interaction with hunters. Social value conflict and psychological stress/coping theories were used to hypothesize and test a structural equation model. Fifty-two percent of the sample (n = 388) indicated that the social interaction would be stressful. Hikers appraised the social situation as controllable. The coping response combined emotion and problem-focused coping. This plan included confronting the hunters, expressing personal values, and attempting to dissuade the hunters from continuing to use the area as a hunting ground. Hikers followed perceived rules of etiquette for social interactions and tried not to damage opportunities to continue using the area. Coping responses were consistent with previous models in recreation and psychology. Results are discussed in light of previous research to foster theoretical development.

Recent changes in sexual behavior of unmarried college students raise the question as to whether or not they are accompanied by changes in conceptions of masculinity and femininity on the part of the students. Changes in conceptions of masculinity and femininity might be the consequence of differential selection into coital activity or of new role learning by those who are coitally active. Data are presented from a study of sexual behavior of 823 college students which support the latter hypothesis for males but not for females.