Challenge and threat states: examining cardiovascular, cognitive and affective responses to two distinct laboratory stress tasks

Trotman, Gavin P.; Williams, Sarah E.; Quinton, Mary L.; Zanten, Jet J.C.S. Veldhuijzen van

doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2018.02.004

Cited by 36 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Moreover, Dixon et al (2019) showed that challenge CV reactivity positively predicted future soccer performance (rated by players and coaches), but that athletes with a blunted CV response performed worse than challenge and threat responders and that there was a weak association between self-report data and cardiovascular responses. Interestingly, the findings of Trotman et al (2018) show support for the central tenets of the TCTSA during competitive stress, but not social stress. This suggests that the type of task may have an impact on the relationship between resource appraisals and cardiovascular reactivity, and that blunted cardiovascular responses need to be considered (see also Wormwood et al, 2019).…”

Section: The Predictions Of the Theory Of Challenge And Threat Statesmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…Overall, there is mixed evidence to support the proposed relationships between the resource appraisals (self-efficacy, perceptions of control, achievement goals), cardiovascular indices of challenge and threat, and emotions. Some published studies support the proposed relationships (Trotman et al, 2018), whereas others do not (Turner et al, 2012(Turner et al, , 2013Dixon et al, 2019). Indeed, in one study, higher levels of self-efficacy were associated with a threat state, which is contrary to the TCTSA (Meijen et al, 2014).…”

Section: The Predictions Of the Theory Of Challenge And Threat Statesmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Since proposing the TCTSA in 2009, the theory has been referenced across a range of domains besides sport. For example, the TCTSA has been considered in aviation (Vine et al, 2015), surgery (Moore et al, 2014), sport fans behavior (Sanderson, 2016), change management in business (Slater et al, 2016), public speaking tasks (Trotman et al, 2018), and visual search tasks (Frings et al, 2014;Laborde et al, 2015). In addition, Turner and Barker (2014a) produced a detailed application of the TCTSA in business settings, in which "performance" was considered to be broader than athletic skill execution.…”

Section: Review Of Research Of Challenge and Threat States In Sportmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Meijen et al, 2014) or that the tasks used may not approximate sufficiently to competitive situations (cf. Trotman et al, 2018). Nevertheless, the inconsistent findings do require a second look, if not a re-evaluation, and reflection on whether other concepts, such as perceived social support, need to be considered as part of resource appraisals to better represent the social environment inherent to challenge and threat states.…”

Section: The Predictions Of the Theory Of Challenge And Threat Statesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Theory of Challenge and Threat States in Athletes: A Revised Conceptualization

et al. 2020

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The Theory of Challenge and Threat States in Athletes (TCTSA) provides a psychophysiological framework for how athletes anticipate motivated performance situations. The purpose of this review is to discuss how research has addressed the 15 predictions made by the TCTSA, to evaluate the mechanisms underpinning the TCTSA in light of the research that has emerged in the last 10 years, and to inform a revised TCTSA (TCTSA-R). There was support for many of the 15 predictions in the TCTSA, with two main areas for reflection identified: to understand the physiology of challenge and to re-evaluate the concept of resource appraisals. This re-evaluation informs the TCTSA-R, which elucidates the physiological changes, predispositions, and cognitive appraisals that mark challenge and threat states. First, the relative strength of the sympathetic nervous system response is outlined as a determinant of challenge and threat patterns of reactivity and we suggest that oxytocin and neuropeptide Y are also key indicators of an adaptive approach to motivated performance situations and can facilitate a challenge state. Second, although predispositions were acknowledged within the TCTSA, how these may influence challenge and threat states was not specified. In the TCTSA-R, it is proposed that one's propensity to appraise stressors is a challenge that most strongly dictates acute cognitive appraisals. Third, in the TCTSA-R, a more parsimonious integration of Lazarusian ideas of cognitive appraisal and challenge and threat is proposed. Given that an athlete can make both challenge and threat primary appraisals and can have both high or low resources compared to perceived demands, a 2 × 2 bifurcation theory of challenge and threat is proposed. This reflects polychotomy of four states: high challenge, low challenge, low threat, and high threat. For example, in low threat, an athlete can evince a threat state but still perform well so long as they perceive high resources. Consequently, we propose suggestions for research concerning measurement tools and a reconsideration of resources to include social support. Finally, applied recommendations are made based on adjusting demands and enhancing resources.

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Section: The Predictions Of the Theory Of Challenge And Threat Statesmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: The Predictions Of the Theory Of Challenge And Threat Statesmentioning

confidence: 88%

Section: Review Of Research Of Challenge and Threat States In Sportmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Predictions Of the Theory Of Challenge And Threat Statesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Theory of Challenge and Threat States in Athletes: A Revised Conceptualization

et al. 2020

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“…12 It is particularly interesting that the intensity of the emotional response to a competition did not differ, despite the fact that some teams regarded the competition as more of a challenge; this is in line with some previous research. 15,16 It has been hypothesised that anxiety states may be seen as more helpful in those who appraise a scenario as challenging, but we did not collect data on participants' perceptions of emotional states in the present study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Cognitive appraisals and team performance under stress: A simulation study

et al. 2020

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Objectives The present study explored how challenge and threat responses to stress relate to performance, anxiety, confidence, team identity and team characteristics (time spent in training and postgraduate experience) in a medical simulation‐based team competition. Methods The study was conducted during a national simulation‐based training event for residents, the SIMCUP Italia 2018. The SIMCUP is a simulation competition in which teams of four compete in simulated medical emergency scenarios. Cross‐sectional data were collected prior to the 3 days of the competition. Subjects included 95 participants on 24 teams. Before the competition on each day, participants completed brief self‐report measures that assessed demands and resources (which underpin challenge and threat responses to stress), cognitive and somatic anxiety, self‐confidence and team identification. Participants also reported time (hours) spent practising as a team and years of postgraduate experience. A team of referees judged each scenario for performance and assigned a score. A linear mixed model using demands and resources was built to model performance. Results The data showed that both demands and resources have positive effects on performance (31 [11‐50.3] [P < .01] and 54 [25‐83.3] [P < .01] percentage points increase for unitary increases in demands and resources, respectively); however, this is balanced by a negative interaction between the two (demands * resources interaction coefficient = −10 [−16 to −4.2]). A high level of resources is associated with better performance until demands become very high. Cognitive and somatic anxieties were found to be correlated with demands (Pearson's r = .51 [P < .01] and Pearson's r = .48 [P < .01], respectively). Time spent training was associated with greater perceptions of resources (Pearson's r = .36 [P < .01]). Conclusions We describe a model of challenge and threat that allows for the estimation of performance according to perceived demands and resources, and the interaction between the two. Higher levels of resources and lower demands were associated with better performance.

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Examining the associations between physical activity, self‐esteem, perceived stress, and internalizing symptoms among older adolescents

Wright

Zanten

Williams

2023

Journal of Adolescence

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Introduction In older adolescence, stress has been found to be prevalent. It has been seen that higher physical activity (PA) relates to lower stress levels, which, in turn, relates to fewer anxiety and depressive symptoms (internalizing symptoms). However, how these associations function is not fully understood. PA is strongly associated with greater self‐esteem in adolescents. As greater self‐esteem is thought to aid better coping with stress and has been seen as beneficial for mental health in adolescents, PA may be associated with lower stress and better mental health through self‐esteem and more adaptive stress appraisals. Therefore, the aim of the study was to examine the relationships between PA, self‐esteem, stress, and mental health. Methods A cross‐sectional design was employed, and path analysis was implemented. PA, self‐esteem, stress appraisals, distress tolerance, perceived stress, anxiety, and depression were assessed using online questionnaires from 244 adolescent participants from the United Kingdom (aged 15–19, M = 16.75 [SD = 0.82], 145 female). Results Path analysis revealed that PA was associated with lower perceived stress through increased self‐esteem, adaptive appraisals, and higher distress tolerance (total standardized indirect effect; p = .007 (−0.25 to −0.11). Moreover, lower perceived stress was associated with lower anxiety (standardized direct effect; p < .001 [2.65–4.0] and depressive symptoms (standardized direct effect; p < .001 [0.33–0.63]). Conclusions Findings suggest that higher PA could be effective in improving mental health among older adolescents, due to its association with perceived stress through higher self‐esteem and more adaptive appraisals of stress.

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Challenge and threat states: examining cardiovascular, cognitive and affective responses to two distinct laboratory stress tasks

Abstract: The TCTSA is supported during competitive stress, however during social stress there is dissociation between self-report appraisals and cardiovascular reactivity.

Cited by 36 publications

References 46 publications

A Theory of Challenge and Threat States in Athletes: A Revised Conceptualization

A Theory of Challenge and Threat States in Athletes: A Revised Conceptualization

Cognitive appraisals and team performance under stress: A simulation study

Examining the associations between physical activity, self‐esteem, perceived stress, and internalizing symptoms among older adolescents

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