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Competitiveness and hemodynamic reactions to competition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 January 2003

JET J.C.S. VELDHUIJZEN VAN ZANTEN ,
DOLF DE BOER ,
LESLEY K. HARRISON ,
CHRISTOPHER RING ,
DOUGLAS CARROLL ,
GONNEKE WILLEMSEN  and
ECO J.C. DE GEUS
JET J.C.S. VELDHUIJZEN VAN ZANTEN
Affiliation:
School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK Biological Psychology, Department of Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
DOLF DE BOER
Affiliation:
School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK Biological Psychology, Department of Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
LESLEY K. HARRISON
Affiliation:
School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
CHRISTOPHER RING
Affiliation:
School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
DOUGLAS CARROLL
Affiliation:
School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
GONNEKE WILLEMSEN
Affiliation:
Biological Psychology, Department of Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
ECO J.C. DE GEUS
Affiliation:
Biological Psychology, Department of Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Abstract

This study examines the effects of competition and competitiveness on hemodynamics. Cardiovascular activity was measured in 27 men at resting baseline and during a car racing game, which comprised a solo race against time and three races against an experimenter. To assess hematocrit, blood was collected at rest and after the final race. Trait competitiveness was assessed by questionnaire. Competition elicited increases in hematocrit, blood pressure, heart rate, and total peripheral resistance, as well as decreases in preejection period and heart rate variability. The final race was rated as more competitive than the solo race. Compared to intrapersonal solo racing, the final interpersonal race was associated with shorter preejection periods and faster heart rates, markers of beta-adrenergic activation. Although trait competitiveness was not associated with beta-adrenergic activation, variations in state competitiveness were.

Keywords

Cardiovascular reactivityCompetitionCompetitivenessHemoconcentration.
Type
Research Article
Information
Psychophysiology , Volume 39 , Issue 6 , November 2002 , pp. 759 - 766
Copyright
2002 Society for Psychophysiological Research

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