Stress Appraisal Research Articles

Challenge or Threat? The Effects of the Standard and a Second-Generation Mindfulness Intervention with Buddhist Practices on Cognitive Appraisals of Stress: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Experiment Performed in Switzerland.

Contemplative approaches rooted in Buddhist traditions have been linked to the attenuation of response to social stress. Anticipatory cognitive appraisals of social situations potentially represent a mechanism explaining the stress-reducing effects of contemplative practices. The cognitive appraisal of threat is associated with an anticipated loss of social self-esteem. In contrast, the cognitive appraisal of challenge involves recognizing the potential for gain or growth in stressful situations and is associated with a more adaptive cardiovascular response. In this secondary analysis of a randomized controlled experiment performed in Switzerland, we evaluated the effects of two contemplative interventions on cognitive appraisals of challenge and threat and associated physiological profiles. The interventions were a standard Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program and a new program (MBSR-B), which included several elements from Buddhist practices. After an eight-week intervention, participants completed the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and underwent the assessment of primary cognitive appraisals and cardiovascular response to stress. The results demonstrated greater challenge appraisal in the MBSR (n = 20) and MBSR-B (n = 21) groups compared to Control (n = 24), and MBSR-B participants scored higher on the challenge than threat appraisal. At the physiological level, the groups did not differ on changes in cardiac output and total peripheral resistance. Still, an exploratory analysis demonstrated that the MBSR-B group's cardiovascular profile best resembled challenge appraisal. The results suggest that contemplative approaches foster challenge appraisal, contributing to a more adaptive response to stress.

THE MODERATING ROLE OF RACE AND ETHNICITY BETWEEN NEGATIVE FAMILY INTERACTIONS AND MENTAL HEALTH AMONG OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Studies generally show that negative social interactions are detrimental to mental health for older adults. Furthermore, empirical evidence suggests that negative interactions may function differently in relation to mental health across racial/ethnic groups given their unique life circumstances and social conditions. This study examines whether the association between negative family interactions and mental health outcomes varies by race and ethnicity. Samples of older African Americans, Caribbean Blacks, and non-Latino Whites aged 55 and older were drawn from the National Survey of American Life (N = 1,439). Mental health variables included depressive symptoms, any lifetime disorder according to The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV), and number of lifetime DSM-IV disorders. Regression models were used to test the study aim. Analyses indicated that negative interactions with family were positively associated with all 3 mental health outcomes. Several racial/ethnic differences emerged. The association between negative family interactions and depressive symptoms was stronger among Whites than African Americans. While negative family interactions were positively associated with number of disorders among Caribbean Blacks, negative interactions were unrelated to number of disorders among African Americans. This study demonstrates the racial and ethnic differences in diverse aging populations and the importance of recognizing the heterogeneity of the Black American population in minority research. Clinical practice should focus on reducing negative family interactions, and future research should examine whether psychosocial resources (e.g., stress appraisals, neighborhood social cohesion) can attenuate the association between negative family interactions and mental health for older African Americans.

SELF-COMPASSION, DAILY STRESS APPRAISALS, AND ODDS OF ELDER ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN DEMENTIA FAMILY CAREGIVING

Abstract Stress related to behavioral symptoms is often found to be a risk factor for elder abuse and neglect in dementia family caregiving. The stress-process model suggests that stressful events alone do not determine caregiving outcomes, rather, they are impacted by personal factors which influence the response to stress. Self-compassion represents how one responds to themselves in moments of distress, with compassionate self-responding consisting of treating oneself with self-kindness (vs. judgement), feelings of common humanity (vs. isolation), and mindful awareness (vs. overidentification). Self-compassion is a modifiable intervention target with efficacious interventions available. We hypothesize that self-compassion can buffer the effects of daily stress on a caregiver’s likelihood of using abusive and neglectful behaviors. To test this hypothesis, a generalized linear mixed model with days (n=9513) nested in dementia family caregivers (N=453) was used. Self-compassion was measured at baseline with the Self-Compassion Scale – Short Form, and daily stress appraisal of behavioral symptoms and occurrences of elder abuse and neglect were measured on 21 sequential daily diary surveys. Having higher self-compassion reduced the likelihood of a caregiver using abusive and neglectful behaviors on a given day by 40% (p=0.001, CI 0.45-0.80). Daily stress appraisal of behavioral symptoms significantly increased the odds of abuse and neglect (OR 1.05, CI 1.02-1.09, p=0.002), while the interaction term showed self-compassion significantly lowered the effect of daily stress (OR 1.01, CI 1-1.02, p=0.029). Given the large effect size, self-compassion should be a priority area for future interventions to reduce elder abuse and neglect in dementia family caregiving.

Bdnf-Nrf-2 crosstalk and emotional behavior are disrupted in a sex-dependent fashion in adolescent mice exposed to maternal stress or maternal obesity

Maternal obesity has been recognized as a stressor affecting the developing fetal brain, leading to long-term negative outcomes comparable to those resulting from maternal psychological stress, although the mechanisms have not been completely elucidated. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that adverse prenatal conditions as diverse as maternal stress and maternal obesity might affect emotional regulation and stress response in the offspring through common pathways, with a main focus on oxidative stress and neuroplasticity. We contrasted and compared adolescent male and female offspring in two mouse models of maternal psychophysical stress (restraint during pregnancy - PNS) and maternal obesity (high-fat diet before and during gestation - mHFD) by combining behavioral assays, evaluation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity, immunohistochemistry and gene expression analysis of selected markers of neuronal function and neuroinflammation in the hippocampus, a key region involved in stress appraisal. Prenatal administration of the antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) was used as a strategy to protect fetal neurodevelopment from the negative effects of PNS and mHFD. Our findings show that these two stressors produce overlapping effects, reducing brain anti-oxidant defenses (Nrf-2) and leading to sex-dependent impairments of hippocampal Bdnf expression and alterations of the emotional behavior and HPA axis functionality. Prenatal NAC administration, by restoring the redox balance, was able to exert long-term protective effects on brain development, suggesting that the modulation of redox pathways might be an effective strategy to target common shared mechanisms between different adverse prenatal conditions.

An assessment of appraisals of dating relationship conflicts and perceptions of appropriate coping strategies with psychologically abusive interactions.

Stemming from a stress appraisal and coping perspective, the present investigation developed a methodology for assessing how individuals appraise abusive dating relationship conflicts (Study 1) and the implications of such appraisals for informing coping responses to abusive interactions (Study 2). Participants ranging in age from 17 to 29 years (Study 1: 102 males, 339 females; Study 2: 88 males, 362 females) completed a survey in which they were presented with a series of 10 scenarios that conveyed relationship conflict cues that were ostensibly aligned with various forms of psychological abuse. Factor analyses indicated that blatant actions conducted in privacy were differentiated from more ambiguous public forms of psychological abuse, in that the latter were appraised by both males and females as more abusive. Females were further likely to appraise blatant conflicts as more threatening but at the same time more resolvable. Participants who had encountered abuse in their own intimate relationships were especially likely to appraise conflicts as abusive, threatening and uncontrollable. Such appraisals were associated with greater endorsement of avoidant coping strategies in response to an abusive encounter, irrespective of personal relationship experiences. It is suggested that how individuals appraise relationship conflicts may be key to their ability to cope effectively with such encounters or to provide appropriate support to those experiencing psychologically abusive relationships.

An experimental test of the mindfulness-to-meaning theory: Casual pathways between decentering, reappraisal, and well-being.

Emotion regulation ideally promotes subjective well-being in addition to relieving distress. Mindfulness-to-Meaning theory (MMT) proposes that well-being interventions follow a common pathway to promote wellness using two intermediate stages: decentering from initial stress appraisals followed by positive reappraisal of life events-linking a broadened state of awareness with narrative meaning-making. A preregistered (https://osf.io/c2xzd) evaluation of the MMT compared online, 3-week adaptations of established well-being interventions in a postsecondary student sample. The study (N = 131) employed a four-arm randomized trial design, featuring (a) control, (b) mindfulness, (c) stress mindset, and (d) blended mindfulness and stress mindset training conditions. The MMT pathway accounted for change in well-being across all models, mindfulness training consistently promoted positive reappraisal despite an absence of reappraisal instructions, and an exploratory cross-lagged analysis found decentering facilitative of subsequent reappraisal. However, the stress mindset intervention failed to improve well-being relative to control, limiting capacity for causal inference; post hoc analyses, therefore, focused on the more efficacious mindfulness training conditions. The MMT accounted for change in well-being across all levels of analysis, although well-being changes were also supported by direct effects of mindfulness training and decentering, with only partial mediation through the complete MMT pathway. These findings support MMT as a process model for well-being but suggest that decentering and reappraisal only partially account for the salutary effects of well-being interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Emotional Processes and Performance

This study investigates the interplay between stress perception and its intensity concerning performance in a professional setting. Contrary to our initial hypothesis of an interaction between stress perception and intensity, our results reveal that individuals perceiving stress as a challenge exhibit higher performance levels, while those viewing stress as a threat experience significantly lower performance, irrespective of stress intensity. This underscores the importance of how individuals interpret stress in the workplace. Our findings have crucial implications for management, employees, and human resources, suggesting that fostering a positive perception of stress as a challenge could enhance overall performance.
 Drawing on Lazarus and Folkman's transactional model, stress is viewed as a dynamic relationship between individuals and environmental demands. Stress emerges from the subjective appraisal of events rather than the events themselves. This study distinguishes between threat and challenge appraisals, positing that threat perceptions decrease performance, while challenge perceptions enhance it. Additionally, Hanin's stress intensity theory suggests an optimal performance zone unique to each individual.
 Eighty-five participants (62 men, 25 women) completed a questionnaire assessing stress perception, intensity, and professional performance. Stress perception was manipulated using the Appraisal of Life Events Scale, measuring threat, challenge, and loss. Intensity was assessed with a single item. Professional performance was measured using the Attainment of Sport Achievement Goals Scale.Contrary to expectations, there was no interaction between stress perception and intensity. Threat perception correlated with decreased performance, while challenge perception correlated with increased performance. No significant effects were observed for loss perception. Satisfaction with performance did not align with increased performance levels.
 Our hypothesis of an interaction effect was not supported, highlighting the impact of stress perception on performance. Positive stress appraisal correlated with enhanced performance, aligning with Lazarus and Folkman's appraisal approach. However, high-performance levels did not necessarily translate into satisfaction, potentially influenced by self-critical tendencies associated with positive perfectionism. Limitations include subjective performance measurement and reliance on self-reporting, suggesting the need for future research combining subjective and physiological measures.This study emphasizes the influence of stress perception on workplace performance, urging managers to consider employees' interpretations of situations. Fostering a challenge perception and providing clear goals may enhance performance and well-being, acknowledging the unique responses of individuals to stress.

An Integrative Review of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Reproductive Traumas of Infertility and Pregnancy Loss.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can lead to chronic diseases and mental health conditions; however, less is known about the associations of ACEs to the reproductive traumas of infertility and pregnancy loss. The purpose of this integrative review was to explore relationships between ACEs and the reproductive traumas of infertility and pregnancy loss. We searched PubMed, SocINDEX, PsycINFO, and CINAHL databases in December 2021 and 2022. Inclusion criteria were qualitative or quantitative research, systematic or integrative reviews, or meta-analysis articles in English that were peer-reviewed and full-text, addressing any ACE from the ACE Checklist and infertility or pregnancy loss. A total of 20 articles were included in the review. We used Whittemore and Knafl's integrative review framework, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses for reporting, and Covidence software for data management. A quality appraisal using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools was performed. Relevant data were extracted into a matrix for iterative comparison. Twenty studies were included in the review. Results support there may be an association between pregnancy loss and infertility in women with a history of ACE, although results are mixed between infertility and ACEs. We also identified other concepts related to ACEs and the reproductive traumas of infertility and pregnancy loss and include racial and ethnically diverse populations, social determinants of health, modifiable risk factors, and stress appraisals. Midwives and other women's health care providers should be aware that ACEs may be associated with pregnancy loss and infertility, although additional research is needed to further explore the relationships with infertility, mental health, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation from allostatic load. Trauma-informed care and the development of effective interventions are warranted for women who experience ACEs. Providers should consider earlier interventions, including emotional services, for women with a history of ACE or reproductive trauma.

Patterns of engagement in digital mental health intervention for LGBTQ+ youth: a latent profile analysis

Engagement is a key metric that researchers can use to assess whether participants received the intended dose of a digital health intervention. However, the prevailing approach has predominantly focused on individual paradata metrics, resulting in a fragmented understanding of overall engagement. To address this limitation, our study utilizes person-centered approaches that allow for the simultaneous capture of multiple engagement metrics within imi–a web application specifically designed to support the mental health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and gender minority youth (LGBTQ+ youth). This person-centered approach enabled us to explore the association between engagement patterns and stress appraisal outcomes within the imi intervention arm. Utilizing latent profile analysis, we classified users into two engagement forms: overall engagement (total number of sessions, pages visited, and external links clicked and their cumulative time spent using imi) and content engagement (number of pages viewed across imi's four core guides: gender, stress, queerness, and stigma). We identified two profiles for each form: a “high engagement” profile and an “average engagement” profile, with the majority of participants assigned to the “average engagement” profile. Our analyses revealed a significant association between overall engagement profiles and stress appraisals, with the “high engagement” profile demonstrating higher challenge appraisals and marginal improvements in threat appraisals compared to the “average engagement” profile. However, no such associations were observed for content engagement profiles and stress appraisal outcomes. The two person-centered approaches used were consistent with prior results utilizing a variable-centered approach, indicating a stronger intervention effect among individuals who exhibit higher engagement in digital health interventions. Although both methods yielded comparable findings, the person-centered approach mitigates concerns related to multi-collinearity and adds additional nuance and context to the study of digital engagement.

Is it all about the personal resources? The moderating role of resilience on daily stress appraisal and emotion

ABSTRACT Recent reviews of occupational resilience have called for this personal resource to be included as both a predictor and moderator of the stress appraisal-emotion relationship. This research addresses these calls by investigating how employees’ self-reports of daily challenge, hindrance, and threat appraisals relate to their daily work-related positive affect, anger, and anxiety, while assessing both the main and moderating effects of resilience. Data were collected through daily diaries from 318 employees over five consecutive workdays (1,502 daily observations). Results were supportive of the distinct appraisal-emotion relationships, as daily challenge appraisal positively predicted daily work-related positive affect, daily hindrance appraisal positively predicted daily work-related anger, and daily threat appraisal positively predicted daily work-related anxiety. Results of the moderating effect of resilience on these relationships were mixed. Despite resilience positively predicting positive affect and negatively predicting anger and anxiety, resilience only appeared to buffer the daily hindrance-anger relationship. While further research is required to understand which personal resources are the most effective in promoting employee wellbeing, this research is supportive of the influence of both stressor appraisal and resilience in understanding occupational wellbeing, particularly the benefit of challenge appraisal and resilience in promoting emotional wellbeing.

Self-efficacy for controlling upsetting thoughts and positive appraisals of stressors relate to caregiving competence in female family carers

Family carers have high rates of stress, anxiety and depression, but there are also positive aspects of caregiving. The aim of this study is to explore correlates of caregiving competence, a positive aspect of caregiving, in 146 female family carers. Regression analyses identify that self-efficacy for controlling upsetting thoughts, caregiver preparedness and self-reassurance were significantly related to caregiving competence, after controlling for contextual variables. These findings indicate that mental health practitioners working with family carers should target positive psychosocial mechanisms, along with factors directly related to the caregiving situation, to enhance carer well-being and promote sustainable care.

Gig worker's perceived algorithmic management, stress appraisal, and destructive deviant behavior.

With the advance of data technologies, gig platforms have applied data and algorithms to their management and put more stringent requirements on gig workers through algorithmic management. Gig workers might perform destructive deviant behavior when coping with algorithmic management. It is meaningful to examine how the algorithmic management applied to gig platforms could lead to gig workers' destructive deviant behavior. Based on the challenge-hindrance framework, we developed a research model and validated it with survey data collected from 423 food delivery riders. We employed multi-level linear regression analysis in data analysis and found that perceived algorithmic management was appraised as both a hindrance and a challenge. As a hindrance, it elicits working/family deviant behavior; as a challenge, it helps reduce working/family deviant behavior. Regulatory focus (a prevention focus vs. a promotion focus) moderates the effect of perceived algorithmic management on stress appraisals (hindrance appraisals vs. challenge appraisals). This study explains algorithmic management's impact on gig workers' destructive deviant behavior through the appraisal of algorithmic management as both a challenge and a hindrance. It also provides practical advice to gig platforms, gig workers and policymakers on how to balance the challenge and hindrance roles of algorithmic management in gig work.

Examining how morning stress forecasts relate to subsequent ecological momentary assessments of stress and coping.

Stress forecasting is the cognitive process of anticipating and preparing to respond to future stress experiences based on one's own perceived future stress. Though it may seem intuitive that stress forecasting predicts stress, competing theories exist that indicate the relationship is not so inherent. In this paper we conducted two studies which both examine the relationships between stress forecasting and day stress, examining two different stress domains (appraisal and coping). Participants in Study 1 (n=143 working adults) and Study 2 (n=60 undergraduate students) completed 4 and 14days, respectively, of ecological momentary assessment reports of stress appraisal forecasting, stress coping forecasting, stress appraisal reports, and stress coping reports, for a combined total of 5280 completed assessments. Exploratory analysis in Study 2 examined the importance of morning forecast discrepancy in relation to evening recalls of day stress. Results indicate that within domain (e.g., stress appraisal to appraisal reports), or domain specific, stress forecasting is predictive of day stress, and that across domains (e.g., stress appraisal to coping reports), or domain crossover, was consistent between stress appraisal forecasting and stress coping reports. Results suggest that magnitude of bias and day outlook (i.e., being either optimistic or pessimistic) about one's coping ability matters for day stress outcomes. Findings have implications for developing challenge-based thinking interventions and further understanding cognitive processes for building stress management strategies.

Childhood adversity predicts stronger premenstrual mood worsening, stress appraisal and cortisol decrease in women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.

Lifetime traumatic events are prevalent in women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and predict stronger premenstrual symptom intensities. Less is known about the unique effects of childhood adversity on PMDD. This study aims to investigate the menstrual cycle related course of mood, stress appraisal and cortisol activity over time and the effects of childhood adversity - by controlling for recent stressful life events - on the cyclicity of these outcomes. Fifty-two women with PMDD completed questionnaires on childhood adversity and stressful life events during the past 12 months. Momentary negative and positive affect, stress appraisal, and saliva-cortisol were assessed within an Ambulatory Assessment (AA) design over four consecutive days during both the follicular and the late luteal phase. This AA was repeated after five months, resulting in two measurement bursts. Women with PMDD showed expected cycle related variations in mood and stress appraisal, whereby these effects weakened over time. No cortisol cyclicity was identified. Higher childhood adversity was linked to stronger increases in negative affect and stress appraisal, and stronger decreases in positive affect from the follicular toward the late luteal phase. Women with higher childhood adversity exhibited lower cortisol levels during the late luteal phase compared to the follicular phase whereas no such cyclicity was found in women with lower childhood adversity. Childhood adversity appears to show independent deteriorating effects on premenstrual mood worsening and stress appraisal in women with PMDD. The observed cortisol cyclicity in women with higher childhood adversity may point to different neuroendocrine subtypes of PMDD in relation to childhood trauma and requires further systematic research.

Role of Self-Objectification & Gendered Racial Microaggressions on Black Women’s Body Appreciation

The subtle sexual objectification and dehumanization of Black women have a long history throughout Western society. However, few scholars have explored how sexually objectifying gendered racial microaggressions (GRM) events detract from Black women’s positive body image attitudes. Accordingly, this study investigated the moderating role of sexually objectifying GRM on the association between self-objectification and Black women’s body appreciation. Participants ( N = 215) completed measures assessing the stress appraisal and frequency of sexually objectifying GRM events, self-objectification beliefs, and body appreciation. Moderated moderation analysis revealed support for the hypothesis, with Black women reporting lower body appreciation when engagement in self-objectification and stress appraisal (of fewer sexually objectifying GRM events) were high. The findings highlight the importance of considering contextual factors, such as sexually objectifying GRM, when exploring Black women’s positive body image attitudes.

Subjective well-being of adults with multiple sclerosis during COVID-19: Evaluating stress-appraisal-coping and person-environment factors.

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) have been coping with high levels of stress during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, affecting their employment, physical, and mental health, and overall life satisfaction. This study evaluated constructs of the stress-appraisal-coping theory and positive person-environment factors as predictors of subjective well-being for adults with MS. Participants included 477 adults with MS recruited through the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to determine the incremental variance in subjective well-being accounted for by demographic covariates, functional disability, perceived stress, stress appraisal, coping styles, and positive person-environment contextual factors. Positive stress appraisal and coping flexibility were significantly associated with subjective well-being at the bivariate correlation level and at the step they were entered into the regression model. Marital status, household income, functional disability, perceived stress, hope, core self-evaluations, and social support were significant predictors in the final model, accounting for 60% of the variance in subjective well-being scores (R² = .60, f² = 1.48; large effect size). Findings from this study support a stress management and well-being model based on constructs of Lazarus and Folkman's stress-appraisal-coping theory and positive person-environment contextual factors, which can inform the development of theory-driven and empirically supported stress management and well-being interventions for people with MS during the ongoing global health crisis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

JOB DEMANDS & TURNOVER INTENTION: CHANGES IN WORK SITUATION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The prolonged pandemic caused Job Demands at Company X to increase due to the shift in working conditions to WFH which led to the emergence of Turnover Intention. Job Demands are the physical, psychological, social and organizational aspects of work that have an impact on physical or psychological aspects (Bakker and Demerouti, 2007), while Turnover Intention is the probability that someone will leave the organization in the near future (Jackson S. & Jackson L., 2019). This study uses the Stress Appraisal Theory by Richard Lazarus (Baumeister & Vohs, 2007), uses an explanatory quantitative approach with a survey method with 50 participants. The results showed that Job Demands had a significant effect on Turnover Intention (p=0.012), and only one dimension of Job Demands, namely Role Conflict, which shows a significant effect on Turnover Intention, which is equal to p=0,291. Referring to the questions and research objectives, the conclusion is that the increase in Job Demands had a significant effect on the Turnover Intention of Company X employees during the pandemic.

The essential impact of stress appraisals on work engagement.

This paper explains the contradictory findings on the relationship between stress and work engagement by including appraisals as a driving mechanism through which job stressors influence engagement. In doing so, it explores whether stressors categorised as either challenging or hindering can be appraised simultaneously as both. Second, it investigates whether stress mindset explains not only how stressors are appraised, but also how appraisals influence engagement. Over five workdays, 487 Canadian and American full-time employees indicated their stress mindset and appraised numerous challenging and hindering stressors, after which they self-reported their engagement at work. Results showed that employees rarely appraised stress as uniquely challenging or hindering. Moreover, when employees harbored positive views about stress, stressors overall were evaluated as less hindering and hindrance stressors were particularly more challenging. Stress mindset appears to be critical in modulating the genesis of stress appraisals. In turn, appraisals explained the stressor-engagement relationship, with challenge and hindrance stressors boosting and hampering engagement, respectively. Finally, positive stress mindset buffered the negative effect of hindrance appraisals on engagement. Our findings clarify misconceptions about how workplace stressors impact engagement and offer novel evidence that stress mindset is a key factor in stress at work.

Self-regulation, stress appraisal, and esport action performance.

Electronic sport has seen substantial growth in market value and popularity in the last 10 years. With this growth has come the pursuit of elite esports performance, especially from a psychological perspective. This study aimed to investigate potential variations in self-regulation levels among athletes of different levels (national vs. student), compare the self-regulation profiles of CS:GO players in the current study to an international sample of e'athletes and to assess the predictive capacity of self-regulation on performance outcomes. A total of 53 esports athletes (student competitors, n = 27 and national-level CS:GO competitors, n = 26), participated in an experiment exploring self-regulation, DRES, and action performance. Furthermore, analysis comparing our collective findings against a larger global sample of e'athletes (n = 993) was conducted. Results demonstrated that CS:GO players who displayed higher levels of self-regulation tended to perceive stressful situations as challenges, consequently showcasing superior accuracy and time trial performance. In contrast, individuals with lower self-regulation tended to perceive such situations as threats, which correlated with less favorable performance outcomes. On a broader scale, the study observed that CS:GO competitors generally exhibited lower levels of self-regulation when compared to the larger global sample. Furthermore, self-regulation was identified as a mediating variable in the relationship between stress appraisal and performance, suggesting that improved self-regulation skills can lead to enhanced accuracy and quicker time trial performance. This may imply that competitors with greater self-regulatory abilities perceive themselves as having more personal resources, enabling them to effectively assess challenging situations and employ problem-focused coping strategies. Overall, this research underscores the significance of self-regulation in optimizing esports performance, while providing valuable insights for player development, action performance, and overall outcomes in the field.

THU118 Prefrontal-Medullary Circuit Is Necessary For Chronic Stress-Induced Neuroendocrine And Behavioral Outcomes

Abstract Disclosure: S.A. Pace: None. E. Lukinic: None. P. Barrette: None. T. Wallace: None. B. Myers: None. Chronic stress exposure is a major risk factor for psychiatric and cardiometabolic diseases. Although the pathologies associated with chronic stress are well-documented, the biological mechanisms underlying these physiological changes remain unknown. Human imaging studies indicate the prefrontal cortex is a key site for processing stress-related information. Within the rat prefrontal cortex, the infralimbic area (IL) is critical for regulating physiological stress reactivity in a sex-specific fashion. Here we examined the necessity of an IL downstream circuit for neurogenic regulation of neuroendocrine susceptibility after chronic stress. We focused on an IL to rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) circuit due to the ability of the RVLM to initiate the sympatho-adrenomedullary stress responses and influence HPA axis activity. Critically, the IL-RVLM circuit is structurally positioned to underlie a crucial link between stress appraisal and sympathetic reactivity. To determine the role of the IL-RVLM circuit during chronic stress, an intersectional viral strategy was used to express a light-chain variant of Tetanus Toxin (TeLC) in RVLM-projecting IL neurons, thereby disrupting IL-RVLM signaling. TeLC-expressing IL neurons had less synaptobrevin-2 protein located on terminals and fewer synaptic appositions in the RVLM. This chronic circuit disruption approach was evaluated in the context of a 2-week chronic variable stress (CVS) paradigm in male and female rats. In males, CVS-exposed TeLC rats displayed decreased corticosterone levels in response to a novel stressor compared to control rats. CVS-naïve males showed no significant changes. In females, we similarly observed no differences in unstressed rats. However, CVS TeLC female rats had increased glycemic and corticosterone stress responses compared to CVS control animals. Additionally, female CVS TeLC rats had increased behavioral avoidance indicated by less time spent in the center of an open field arena compared to CVS control rats. This behavioral effect was not present in males. These results suggest that the IL-RVLM circuit is essential for preventing chronic stress outcomes in female rats, but not males. Further, this circuit regulation is necessary only after chronic stress exposure. Future studies will be aimed at determining sex differences in chronic stress effects on IL-RVLM signaling. Presentation: Thursday, June 15, 2023