Motivational State Does Not Affect All-Out Short Duration Exercise Performance.
Exercise can have a positive influence on both physical and psychological well-being,1
which encompasses emotional and stress responses. However, this is not the case for all individuals as emotion and stress responses differ among individuals depending on personality and/or exercise mode.
Athletes dominant in this state prefer low arousal levels prior to competition. Alternatively, the paratelic state dominant athletes focus on non-essential, freely chosen goals with emphasis on the value of current experiences for their own sake, while lacking regard for future consequences and preferring to be spontaneous.5 Athletes dominant in this state prefer high arousal levels prior to competition.
This aims of this study were to assess the effects of altering telic or paratelic motivational states in order to quantify the influence on emotion, stress, and performance during sprint exercise. The
data presented shows no link between dominant motivational state and advantageous all-out, short duration cycle performance. Additionally, the manipulation of participants, motivational state to the opposite state, had no bearing on performance outcome, perceived levels or physiological levels of stress.
As such, coaches, support staff and athletes do not have to worry about a particular state in regards to telic or paratelic in an acute time frame, as long as the athlete’s arousal levels and emotional conditions are optimal. The results presented here further the questions raised regarding preference for physicality of sporting events and motivational states (telic vs. paratelic) and exercise mode.
Sport Exerc Med Open J. 2017; 3(2): 40-45. doi: 10.17140/SEMOJ-3-146
