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The Moderating Influence of Stress Appraisals and Affect on Performance under Fatigue

Schmidt, Regina M.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1221163191

Abstract Details

2008, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Wright State University, Human Factors and Industrial/Organizational Psychology PhD.
This study demonstrated that in a group of seventeen active duty soldiers, performance on an attack combat simulation significantly degraded after approximately 30 h of sleep deprivation. In addition, individual differences were identified, as approximately half of the participants maintained performance throughout the sleep deprivation period, while other participants degraded in performance. The main objective of this study was to test the efficacy of micro-level cognitive performance and subject state factors to account for this dichotomy in performance that was particular to the last testing session. Results showed that performance on a decision making test with rapid reaction time constraints was predictive of performance changes on the attack combat scenario. It was also found that individuals who were able to sustain performance made secondary task errors after 18 hours of continued wakefulness, suggesting a strategic change of task shedding, followed by a heightened sense of secondary task awareness. This study also demonstrated that stress appraisals did not significantly change under continued wakefulness, nor did stress appraisals explain performance differences. It was also found that individuals who were capable of maintaining performance exhibited an increase in levels of anxiety over the continued wakefulness period. This finding can be explained in the context of the inverted-U hypothesis, which states that performance inhibiting stressors such as continued wakefulness will lead to less arousal and poorer performance while performance facilitation will occur under additional stressors that increase arousal, such as anxiety. It is concluded that the ability to manage increases in task demands involves making adjustments to subject state variables. Further studies should investigate personality factors that predict this ability. The present study suggests that self-regulation properties are operating for individuals who are able to sustain performance under fatigue.
John Flach, PhD (Advisor)
Tamera Schneider, PhD (Committee Member)
Wayne Shebilske, PhD (Committee Member)
Robert O'Donnell, PhD (Committee Member)
115 p.
Behaviorial Sciences; Psychology
Cognitive Performance; Stress Appraisals; Affect; Fatigue

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Schmidt, R. M. (2008). The Moderating Influence of Stress Appraisals and Affect on Performance under Fatigue [Doctoral dissertation, Wright State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1221163191

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Schmidt, Regina. The Moderating Influence of Stress Appraisals and Affect on Performance under Fatigue. 2008. Wright State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1221163191.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Schmidt, Regina. "The Moderating Influence of Stress Appraisals and Affect on Performance under Fatigue." Doctoral dissertation, Wright State University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1221163191

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

wright1221163191
1,154
© 2008, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Wright State University and OhioLINK.