Stress and Prevention of Maladaptive Stress Responses

According to Lazarus and Folkman’s transactional model, stress describes situations that are important to persons and tax or exceed their resources. Arguably, this description encompasses much of competitive sport and although stress is necessary for development and growth, it can also impair functioning and ignite sport crises. Specifically, acute stress results in emotional responses that can comprise physiological, cognitive, and behavioral consequences. If persons perceive a situation as a challenge and their resources match or outweigh the demands of the situation, they are likely to respond adaptively and with improved performance. Conversely, if they perceive the situation as a threat with demands outweighing their resources, they are likely to respond maladaptively and with reduced performance. Over time, in the case of chronic or persisting stress, however, even adaptive stress responses consume significant amounts of resources and energy and require adequate recovery. If recovery is lacking, stress can trigger a downward spiral of reduced functioning and lead to performance and existential crises. Thus, to prevent maladaptive responses to acute stress and stress-induced sport crises, we need to reduce demands and increase resources. For this, we can train the person (e.g., build identity facets and self-compassion, enhance control and efficacy), also in the use of psychological skills (e.g., self-talk and goal-setting), change the environment (e.g., enhance organizational support and improve group dynamics), and ensure sufficient recovery (e.g., rest, healthy lifestyles).