Page 11 - Summer 2015 Newsletter

Participant Inlammatory and Cortisol Responses

During a Motivational Climate Intervention

Mary Fry, PhD, University of Kansas

Candace Hogue, MS, University of Kansas

Research utilizing achievement goal theory indicates As hypothesized, the EI group responded with higher

that perceptions of caring, task-involving, achieve- levels of salivary cortisol compared to the C/TI group

ment-based settings yield more positive and adaptive post-intervention, with the C/TI group levels decreas-

responses relative to ego-involving climates. Although ing signiicantly from baseline. Similarly, the C/TI

there is extensive research that has examined the group also had signiicantly higher post-intervention

cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses of sTNFαRII levels relative to both the EI group and

participants in distinct motivational climates, little is baseline levels. Both the decrease in cortisol and the

known about individuals’ physiological responses. sTNFαRII response (e.g., marker of inlammation) of

As such, the purpose of this study was to investigate
the C/TI group may indicate physiological protective
Mary
mechanisms against psychological stress associated physiological responses to psychological stress, spe-

with group-based achievement settings.
FRY
ciically cortisol and inlammatory responses, which

are particularly relevant to athletic performance.

The C/TI group also reported more adaptive re-

sponses for each of the psychological assessments College students (N = 57) were invited to learn to

investigated when compared to the EI group, includ- juggle, were separated by sex, and then randomly

ing greater self-control and coping with respect to assigned to a 30-minute instructional session where

state cognitive stress appraisal, more positive affect, the motivational climate was manipulated to be either

higher effort and enjoyment, as well as greater per- ego-involving (EI) or caring and task-involving (C/TI).

formance and social self-esteem during the juggling All participants completed pre- and post-intervention

session. In contrast, the EI group reported greater (e.g., juggling session) questionnaires examining

perceived threat and challenge than the C/TI group, general motivational responses, stress and coping,

Candace
more negative affect, and markedly higher levels of affect, and anxiety. Participants also provided saliva

anxiety and lower levels of self-conidence in their samples at six time-points over the course of two HOGUE

juggling ability. Moreover, individual items investigat- hours to assess changes in the physiological indices

ing stress-related responses to the climate interven- under investigation, including salivary cortisol and a

tion indicated that the EI group felt signiicantly more
variant of tumor necrosis factor receptor (sTNFαRII).

AASP Newsletter // Summer 2015 // Participant Inlammatory and Cortisol Responses During a Motivational Climate Intervention

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