Who Thrives Under Pressure? Predicting the Performance of Elite Academy Cricketers Using the Cardiovascular Indicators of Challenge and Threat States

Abstract

This study assessed whether cardiovascular (CV) reactivity patterns indexing challenge and threat states predicted batting performance in elite male county (N = 12) and national (N = 30) academy cricketers. Participants completed a batting test under pressure, before which CV reactivity was recorded in response to egothreatening audio instructions. Self-reported self-efficacy, control, achievement goals, and emotions were also assessed. Challenge CV reactivity predicted superior performance in the Batting Test, compared with threat CV reactivity. The relationships between self-report measures and CV reactivity, and self-report measures and performance were inconsistent. A small subsample of participants who exhibited threat CV reactivity, but performed well, reported greater self-efficacy than participants who exhibited threat CV reactivity, but performed poorly. Also a small subsample of participants who exhibited challenge reactivity, but performed poorly, had higher avoidance goals than participants with challenge reactivity who performed well. The mechanisms for the observed relationship between CV reactivity and performance are discussed alongside implications for future research and applied practice.

Individual reactions to stress predict performance during a critical aviation incident

“…These results therefore have important implications for safety and error avoidance in safety critical industries (e.g., aviation, surgery, and driving), and for improved performance in stressful applied environments (e.g., sport and military). While more complex psychophysiological indices of challenge and threat states may reflect subconscious evaluations that are free from reporter bias to be assessed (e.g., Blascovich et al, 2004;Moore et al, 2012;Turner, Jones, Sheffield, & Cross, 2012;Turner, Jones, Sheffield, Slater, Barker, & Bell, 2013), the current study provides further support for the validity of expedient self-report measures that can be easily collected in applied environments.…”

Robotically assisted laparoscopy benefits surgical performance under stress

“…Robotic technology may therefore also have benefits in terms of surgeons' long-term mental and physical health, an important consideration given recent concerns regarding surgeons' elevated suicide risk and reduced life expectancy [30,31]. In Stress in robotic surgery 14 addition, when compared to the 'threat' cardiovascular response, the 'challenge' cardiovascular response has been shown to predict superior motor performance in stressful environments [32].…”

“…Spare resources might be a consequence of lower cognitive workload required to perform surgical tasks on the robotic platform than the laparoscopic platform [5,6]. In the operating room, these extra cognitive resources could be used to more effectively deal with other demands, such as decision-making and communication, or to better cope with the many Stress in robotic surgery 15 noises and distractions that are often encountered [32]. Such issues would be interesting to examine in future research.…”

Manipulating cardiovascular indices of challenge and threat using resource appraisals

“…Challenge cognitive appraisals occur when secondary appraisal indicates that an individual's coping potential is sufficient, thus deeming harm less likely. Challenge is considered an adaptive approach associated with superior performance, and threat a maladaptive approach associated with inferior performance in a range of tasks (e.g., Blascovich, Seery, Mugridge, Norris, & Weisbuch, 2004;Moore, Vine, Wilson, & Freeman, 2012;Schneider, 2008;Turner, Jones, Sheffield, & Cross, 2012;Turner, Jones, Sheffield, Slater, Barker, & Bell, 2013).…”

“…In fact, it is often precisely the importance of an event that provides the motivation to succeed (e.g., Eysenck & Calvo, 1992). Finding strategies to successfully promote challenge reactivity in motivated performance situations without altering the perceived demands is a valuable endeavour, as a growing body of research reports the association between challenge reactivity and superior performance compared to threat reactivity (e.g., Blascovich et al, 2004;Moore et al, 2012;Seery, Weisbuch, Hetenyi, & Blascovich, 2010;Turner et al, 2012;Turner et al, 2013). For example, Turner et al (2012) found that challenge CV reactivity was associated with increased performance from base levels in both a cognitive (Stroop Test) and a motor (Netball shooting) task, whereas threat CV reactivity was associated with decreased performance from base levels in both tasks.…”