Predicting performance under acute stress: The role of individual characteristics.

Abstract

This prospective study examined how differences in coping style, coping self-efficacy, and metacognitive awareness influence coping behavior and performance during a realistic acute stressful exercise in 2 military samples (n = 122 and n = 132). Results showed that coping self-efficacy and coping style affected coping behavior, and that, in turn, coping behavior affected performance. The findings of a post hoc analysis suggested that metacognitive awareness had an indirect relationship with coping behavior, through task-focused coping style and coping self-efficacy, instead of a predicted direct relationship. Together, these results indicate that coping style and coping self-efficacy are important predictors of performance under acute stress, and that this effect is mediated by coping behavior. © 2011 American Psychological Association.