Cardiovascular reactivity to acute psychological stress is associated with generalised self-efficacy and self-efficacy outcomes during adventure challenges
Outdoor adventure challenges are commonly used to enhance self-efficacy, but the physiological mechanisms involved remain unexplored. Additionally, while studies have documented the influence of self-efficacy on stress management, general self-efficacy has yet to be fully understood in the context of cardiovascular stress reactivity (CVR). This study investigated the influence of self-efficacy beliefs on CVR during acute psychological stress tasks. Additionally, it explored whether CVR serves as a novel mechanism underlying the outcomes of outdoor adventure challenges. As part of a wider randomised controlled trial, participants (n = 55) were invited to complete a laboratory session to assess CVR to an active (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT)) and a passive (cold pressor test (CPT)) stress task. Randomised participants (n = 33) to the experimental condition also engaged in a high ropes challenge course after the laboratory session. It was found that greater baseline self-efficacy was associated with larger CVR during the CPT and positively associated with perceived engagement and performance during the PASAT. Secondly, participants reporting positive change in self-efficacy post-intervention were associated with greater CVR and greater CVR was associated with higher ratings of intervention engagement and perceived challenge. This study provides preliminary evidence suggesting that self-efficacy may heighten CVR to passive acute psychological stressors. Habitual stress reactivity may represent a novel mechanism involved in outdoor and adventure-based interventions. Future research should continue to explore the impact of psychological variables on stress physiology and examine CVR as a potential mechanism in adventure experiences.</p
