Assessing the relationship between food insecurity and lifestyle behaviors among university students: a comparative study between Lebanon and Germany.

BACKGROUND: Food insecurity is a common public health problem in both developed and developing countries. This study aimed to profile food insecurity among university students in a developed country with stable economic circumstances (Germany) and a developing Mediterranean country undergoing a severe economic and financial crisis (Lebanon) and examine the associations between food insecurity and lifestyle behaviors (i.e., physical activity, sleep, and adherence to a healthy eating pattern, such as the Mediterranean diet), stress, and financial well-being. METHOD: This online cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2021 and March 2022. Subjects were recruited through social media platforms (Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and personal email) and in-class announcements by several university professors of various majors and from different universities in Lebanon and Germany. The final sample included 547 participants (197 from Lebanon and 350 from Germany). RESULTS: Our findings showed a higher food insecurity rate in Lebanon compared with Germany (59% versus 33%). In the bivariate analysis, food insecurity was associated with insomnia (r = 0.230; p < 0.001) and stress (r = 0.225; p = 0.001); German university students had higher physical activity (p < 0.001), better diet quality (p < 0.001), and lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet (p < 0001) than Lebanese students. In the multivariable analyses, more stress was related to insomnia (B = 0.178; p < 0.001), while financial well-being was not associated with any of the lifestyle behaviors. Physical activity, insomnia, and Mediterranean diet adherence were not associated with the country or food insecurity (p > 0.05); however, living in Germany was associated with better diet quality (B = -7.85; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of food insecurity reported in this study is alarming, particularly among Lebanese students; German students had better diet quality and higher physical activity but worse adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Moreover, food insecurity was also associated with worse sleep and stress. Further studies are necessary to assess the role of food insecurity as a mediating factor between sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle behaviors.

Association between impulsivity and orthorexia nervosa: any moderating role of maladaptive personality traits?

OBJECTIVES: To explore the possible moderating relation between impulsive behavior and maladaptive personality traits in regards to orthorexia nervosa (ON). METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between July and December 2019 and recruited 519 Lebanese adults from seven community pharmacies randomly selected from a list provided by the Lebanese Order of Pharmacists. The Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS) was employed to assess orthorexic eating tendencies, the I-8 measured impulsivity and the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID) evaluated maladaptive personality traits. RESULTS: Our results showed that, for I-8 subscales, only higher perseverance (B = 0.31) was significantly associated with higher ON. In regard to PID-5 subscales, only higher negative affect (B = - 0.34) was significantly associated with lower ON. Furthermore, significant interactions were found between personality traits and impulsivity to predict TOS-ON. CONCLUSION: The current results show that female gender, maladaptive personality traits and impulsivity present contributing factors regarding orthorexic eating. Certain impulsivity dimensions were confirmed to interact with personality traits in the prediction of orthorexic eating thereby highlighting possible risk factors and psychopathological mechanisms. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.

A consensus document on definition and diagnostic criteria for orthorexia nervosa.

PURPOSE: Since the term orthorexia nervosa (ON) was coined from the Greek (ὀρθός, right and ὄρεξις, appetite) in 1997 to describe an obsession with "correct" eating, it has been used worldwide without a consistent definition. Although multiple authors have proposed diagnostic criteria, and many theoretical papers have been published, no consensus definition of ON exists, empirical primary evidence is limited, and ON is not a standardized diagnosis. These gaps prevent research to identify risk and protective factors, pathophysiology, functional consequences, and evidence-based therapeutic treatments. The aims of the current study are to categorize the common observations and presentations of ON pathology among experts in the eating disorder field, propose tentative diagnostic criteria, and consider which DSM chapter and category would be most appropriate for ON should it be included. METHODS: 47 eating disorder researchers and multidisciplinary treatment specialists from 14 different countries across four continents completed a three-phase modified Delphi process, with 75% agreement determined as the threshold for a statement to be included in the final consensus document. In phase I, participants were asked via online survey to agree or disagree with 67 statements about ON in four categories: A-Definition, Clinical Aspects, Duration; B-Consequences; C-Onset; D-Exclusion Criteria, and comment on their rationale. Responses were used to modify the statements which were then provided to the same participants for phase II, a second round of feedback, again in online survey form. Responses to phase II were used to modify and improve the statements for phase III, in which statements that met the predetermined 75% of agreement threshold were provided for review and commentary by all participants. RESULTS: 27 statements met or exceeded the consensus threshold and were compiled into proposed diagnostic criteria for ON. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first time a standardized definition of ON has been developed from a worldwide, multidisciplinary cohort of experts. It represents a summary of observations, clinical expertise, and research findings from a wide base of knowledge. It may be used as a base for diagnosis, treatment protocols, and further research to answer the open questions that remain, particularly the functional consequences of ON and how it might be prevented or identified and intervened upon in its early stages. Although the participants encompass many countries and disciplines, further research will be needed to determine if these diagnostic criteria are applicable to the experience of ON in geographic areas not represented in the current expert panel. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V: opinions of expert committees.

Fingernail cortisol - State of research and future directions.

The extraction of cortisol from fingernails represents a recent advancement in the retrospective, long-term assessment of hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal (HPA) axis activity: Fingernail cortisol has the potential to overcome some of the major disadvantages of established HPA axis markers. However, the introduction of any novel methodology also raises certain caveats. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the current state of research on fingernail cortisol. It identifies a number of strengths of his novel methodology (e.g., its high feasibility), while also pointing out open questions which currently challenge the interpretability of fingernail findings, in particular regarding the time period of cortisol secretion reflected in fingernail samples, as well as regarding potential determinants or confounders of fingernail cortisol (e.g. sociodemographic, lifestyle, or health characteristics). Clarification of these issues in the context of further methodological studies is necessary to validate the use of fingernail cortisol as a retrospective marker of HPA axis activity.

Joint associations of regular exercise and healthy diet with psychobiological stress reactivity in a healthy male sample.

Objectives: Engaging in physical activity and exercise have long been shown to have beneficial effects on (psychosocial) stress reactivity. Initial studies could reveal that these positive effects on stress reactivity also exist for a healthy diet. Aim of this study was to examine whether combining a healthy diet and regular exercise can provide additional benefits on psychobiological stress levels. Methods: Forty-two men self-identifying as non-exercisers or regular exercisers between 18 and 30 years were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test for Groups. Salivary cortisol (sCort) and alpha-amylase (sAA) as biological stress markers, and self-reported momentary stress were repeatedly examined. Questionnaires on regular exercise and dietary intake were completed once. Results: Two-stage hierarchical multiple regressions predicting participants' stress reactivity, i.e. response and recovery, from diet quality, exercise as well as their interaction appeared inconsistent. sCort response was significantly predicted by regular exercise whereas greater sCort recovery was predicted by higher diet quality. In contrast, higher sAA reactivity was predicted by higher diet quality while participants eating less healthy and exercising more showed the most pronounced sAA recovery. None of the other outcome variables was predicted by the interaction. Subjective stress was unrelated to either health behavior. Conclusions: The present examination among an all-male sample emphasized the stress-buffering capabilities of regular exercise and provided initial evidence for a distinct link to healthy diet. Assumed synergistic benefits could, however, not be confirmed. Advances are needed to better understand how individuals profit the most from which behaviors as well as their interactive effects.

LAY SUMMARYThe present study among an all-male sample emphasized the stress-buffering capabilities of regular exercise. While the quality of the diet had a similar effect, assumed double benefits did not appear.

Alike and different: Associations between orthorexic eating behaviors and exercise addiction.

OBJECTIVE: Symptoms of exercise addiction, a state of compulsively engaging in intense exercise, and orthorexic eating attitudes, the obsession with eating only healthy foods, often occur together. It is assumed that some more general psychological traits underlie this association. Main aim of this report was to examine similarities and differences between orthorexic eating and addictive exercising. METHOD: Six hundred and eight individuals completed an online survey (mean age: 27.5, SD = 11.0 years; 76.5% women) measuring exercise addiction (Exercise Addiction inventory, EAI), orthorexic eating (Düsseldorfer Orthorexie Skala, DOS), personality domains (Big-Five Inventory-10), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). RESULTS: Correlations between the DOS and EAI were .43 in women and .62 in men. Structural equation models identified gender-specific as well as behavior-specific psychological correlates. Among women, anxiety correlated with both EAI and DOS. In addition, the DOS correlated with depression and neuroticism while the EAI correlated with conscientiousness. In men, both scales were associated with conscientiousness and the EAI also correlated with extraversion. Clusterability analysis provided no evidence for clusters based on DOS and EAI. DISCUSSION: Present results showed a substantial correlation between addictive exercising and orthorexic eating, however, coefficients were smaller than expected and appeared higher in men. Both behaviors shared few psychological traits (anxiety in women, conscientiousness in men) thereby questioning the assumption of a similar origin. Additionally, gender-specific psychological correlates point to the need for different disease management approaches in women and men.

Effects of home confinement on mental health and lifestyle behaviours during the COVID-19 outbreak: insights from the ECLB-COVID19 multicentre study.

Although recognised as effective measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, social distancing and self-isolation have been suggested to generate a burden throughout the population. To provide scientific data to help identify risk factors for the psychosocial strain during the COVID-19 outbreak, an international cross-disciplinary online survey was circulated in April 2020. This report outlines the mental, emotional and behavioural consequences of COVID-19 home confinement. The ECLB-COVID19 electronic survey was designed by a steering group of multidisciplinary scientists, following a structured review of the literature. The survey was uploaded and shared on the Google online survey platform and was promoted by thirty-five research organizations from Europe, North Africa, Western Asia and the Americas. Questions were presented in a differential format with questions related to responses "before" and "during" the confinement period. 1047 replies (54% women) from Western Asia (36%), North Africa (40%), Europe (21%) and other continents (3%) were analysed. The COVID-19 home confinement evoked a negative effect on mental wellbeing and emotional status (P < 0.001; 0.43 ≤ d ≤ 0.65) with a greater proportion of individuals experiencing psychosocial and emotional disorders (+10% to +16.5%). These psychosocial tolls were associated with unhealthy lifestyle behaviours with a greater proportion of individuals experiencing (i) physical (+15.2%) and social (+71.2%) inactivity, (ii) poor sleep quality (+12.8%), (iii) unhealthy diet behaviours (+10%), and (iv) unemployment (6%). Conversely, participants demonstrated a greater use (+15%) of technology during the confinement period. These findings elucidate the risk of psychosocial strain during the COVID-19 home confinement period and provide a clear remit for the urgent implementation of technology-based intervention to foster an Active and Healthy Confinement Lifestyle AHCL).

Globally altered sleep patterns and physical activity levels by confinement in 5056 individuals: ECLB COVID-19 international online survey.

Symptoms of psychological distress and disorder have been widely reported in people under quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic; in addition to severe disruption of peoples' daily activity and sleep patterns. This study investigates the association between physical-activity levels and sleep patterns in quarantined individuals. An international Google online survey was launched in April 6th, 2020 for 12-weeks. Forty-one research organizations from Europe, North-Africa, Western-Asia, and the Americas promoted the survey through their networks to the general society, which was made available in 14 languages. The survey was presented in a differential format with questions related to responses "before" and "during" the confinement period. Participants responded to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire and the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. 5056 replies (59.4% female), from Europe (46.4%), Western-Asia (25.4%), America (14.8%) and North-Africa (13.3%) were analysed. The COVID-19 home confinement led to impaired sleep quality, as evidenced by the increase in the global PSQI score (4.37 ± 2.71 before home confinement vs. 5.32 ± 3.23 during home confinement) (p < 0.001). The frequency of individuals experiencing a good sleep decreased from 61% (n = 3063) before home confinement to 48% (n = 2405) during home confinement with highly active individuals experienced better sleep quality (p < 0.001) in both conditions. Time spent engaged in all physical-activity and the metabolic equivalent of task in each physical-activity category (i.e., vigorous, moderate, walking) decreased significantly during COVID-19 home confinement (p < 0.001). The number of hours of daily-sitting increased by ~2 hours/days during home confinement (p < 0.001). COVID-19 home confinement resulted in significantly negative alterations in sleep patterns and physical-activity levels. To maintain health during home confinement, physical-activity promotion and sleep hygiene education and support are strongly warranted.

Associations between Health Behaviors and Factors on Markers of Healthy Psychological and Physiological Functioning: a Daily Diary Study.

BACKGROUND: Cross-sectional and experimental knowledge highlight the contribution of various health-promoting behaviors, such as physical activity, regular sleep, and healthy nutrition to mental and physical health. Beyond these well-studied lifestyle behaviors, music listening and perceived respect in social interactions are just recently proposed everyday life experiences, which may act as health-promoting factors. PURPOSE: This study tested the simultaneous contribution of several health-promoting behaviors and factors and examined listening to music and positive social interaction by means of perceived respect as new potentially preventive and health-promoting behaviors and factors using an ambulatory assessment design. METHODS: Seventy-seven young healthy adults (38 women, 23.9 ± 4.5 years) completed surveys on their psychological state (i.e., mood, stress, and fatigue) five times a day for four consecutive days. A saliva sample was collected with each data entry to explore the physiological stress markers salivary cortisol, alpha-amylase, and flow rate as further outcome variables. As predictors, perceived respect, self-reported physical activity, the sleep's restfulness, daily coffee, alcohol, vegetable/fruit consumption, and music listening behavior were recorded. RESULTS: Overall, restful sleep, mean daily perceived respect, and listening to music were most clearly associated with more positive psychological states, that is, better mood and lower fatigue and perceived stress. Associations with daily alcohol, coffee, and vegetable/fruit consumption appeared rather minor. While perceived respect scores were associated with lower daily cortisol output, coffee consumption was positively related to daily cortisol and alpha-amylase. Self-reported physical activity was unrelated to either outcome measure. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide important insights regarding potential resources of health (i.e., music and respect), their covariation, and which psycho-physiological mechanisms may underlie the links between health factors and well-being. Findings also have implications for the development of interventions aiming to increase resilience and foster health. Here, strategies for improving sleep quality, the use of music, and approaches that emphasize mutual respect and appreciation appear useful additions.

Internet-Based Cognitive-Behavioural Intervention for Women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Given the high prevalence of clinically relevant premenstrual symptoms and the associated impairment, there is a need for effective treatments. Initial evidence suggests cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) as an effective treatment for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). The aim of the current randomized clinical trial was to evaluate an Internet-based CBT (iCBT) to reduce the burden of PMDD. METHODS: In all, 174 women with PMDD were recruited via newspaper articles, flyers, and social media. They were randomized to a treatment group (TG; n = 86) or waitlist control group (CG; n = 88). Women of the TG received an 8-week therapist-guided iCBT. Data were assessed before and after treatment/waiting, and 6 months after intervention with prospective symptom diaries and questionnaires in the premenstrual phase. Treatment effects and moderators were analysed using hierarchical linear modelling. RESULTS: Significant time × group interaction effects on functional impairment and psychological impairment, impact on everyday life, symptom intensity, and symptom disability in favour of the TG indicated the efficacy of the treatment. Follow-up assessments demonstrated treatment effects to be stable until 6 months after treatment. Additionally, significant interactions with moderator variables were found. In the TG, higher levels of active coping and lower levels of support-seeking coping were associated with stronger improvement in interference in everyday life and symptom intensity. In addition, lower levels of perceived stress were associated with stronger improvement in functional impairment. CONCLUSION: The iCBT was highly effective in reducing the burden of PMDD. It appears to be particularly important to address coping styles and stress management in the treatment.

"N-of-1"-Study: A concept of acute and chronic stress research using the example of ballroom dancing.

Athletes often report on heightened stress, higher disease susceptibility, and a deterioration in mood and performance throughout periods of high training load and competitions. This paper presents a single-case study combining different research approaches to monitor the dynamic, idiosyncratic responses to competitive stress in elite sports using the example of professional ballroom dancing. Throughout an 8-month period (313 data points), one international-level female dancer provided data on mood, stress, and fatigue. In parallel, she collected saliva samples for the assessment of cortisol (sCort) and alpha-amylase (sAA). A hair strand was collected every 3 months to examine cumulative cortisol secretion. As expected, perceived stress was related to a reduction in well-being. On a daily basis, sCort predicted lower fatigue. In addition, tournaments resulted in a 3-fold and a 2-fold increase in sCort and sAA, respectively, and there was a pronounced drop in hair cortisol in the aftermath of a surgery-related break from dancing. We confirm competitive ballroom dancing to constitute a major stressor with immediate and prolonged consequences for self-reported well-being and biological stress markers. Single-case studies offer much potential for the observation of complex dynamic associations. In a next step, this approach will also become relevant when evaluating the efficacy of preventive and therapeutic interventions on an individual level.

Acute psychosocial stress and working memory performance: the potential of physical activity to modulate cognitive functions in children.

BACKGROUND: Research suggests that physical activity (PA) enhances cognitive performance and prevents stress-related impairments of higher order cognitive functions like working memory (WM) performance. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of PA on WM performance after acute stress exposure in preadolescent children. METHODS: Regular PA was assessed for seven consecutive days during a typical school week using accelerometers in a sample of 44 preadolescent children (14 girls, Mage = 11.29 years, SDage = 0.67). Following this period, participants performed an automated operational span (OSPAN) task immediately after being exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test for Children (TSST-C). RESULTS: Children exhibited prototypical response slopes in salivary cortisol and salivary α-amylase as markers of the endocrine and autonomic stress response immediately after psychosocial stress induction. A subsequent two-way ANOVA comparing high- and low-stress responders revealed a significant interaction between group affiliation and PA level on WM performance for both stress markers. Interestingly, best WM performance was demonstrated in children showing both high PA levels and high cortisol (or low α-amylase, respectively) stress responses. CONCLUSIONS: Though patterns differed for salivary cortisol and salivary α-amylase, overall findings suggest that PA buffers the negative effects of stress on cognitive performance in children.

Psychobiological impact of ethnic discrimination in Turkish immigrants living in Germany.

Perceived ethnic discrimination has a negative impact on health. One of the key mechanisms may be a dysregulation of stress-responsive systems. Our aims were to investigate whether (1) acute face-to-face ethnic discrimination induces a stress response, and (2) to compare long-term endocrine functioning between immigrants and nonimmigrants. 30 male Turkish immigrants living in Germany underwent an ethnic discrimination condition and a control condition in the laboratory. Perceived ethnic discrimination, stress, salivary alpha-amylase and cortisol were measured four times. Heart rate and electrodermal activity were measured continuously. In addition, hair samples were collected from immigrants and 25 male nonimmigrants to determine long-term cortisol concentrations. Immigrants showed increases in perceived ethnic discrimination, stress, heart rate, alpha-amylase and cortisol during the ethnic discrimination condition. Immigrants had significantly lower hair cortisol concentrations than nonimmigrants. These findings suggest that acute ethnic discrimination elicits a psychobiological stress response. Abnormalities in long-term endocrine functioning in ethnic minorities may set the stage for the development of stress-related illnesses. Lay summary The present study found that racial discrimination of Turkish immigrants induced both psychological and physiological stress responses in the laboratory. Immigrants showed lower hair cortisol concentrations than nonimmigrants, indicating a dysregulated biological stress system.

Physical activity buffers fatigue only under low chronic stress.

Fatigue is one of the most commonly reported complaints in the general population. As physical activity (PA) has been shown to have beneficial effects, we hypothesized that everyday life PA improves fatigue. Thirty-three healthy students (21 women, 22.8 ± 3.3 years, 21.7 ± 2.3 kg/m(2)) completed two ambulatory assessment periods. During five days at the beginning of the semester (control condition) and five days during final examination preparation (examination condition), participants repeatedly reported on general fatigue (awakening, 10 am, 2 pm, 6 pm and 9 pm) by means of an electronic diary, collected saliva samples for the assessment of cortisol and α-amylase immediately after providing information on fatigue and wore a triaxial accelerometer to continuously record PA. Self-perceived chronic stress was assessed as a moderator. Using hierarchical linear modeling, including PA, condition (control vs. examination), sex and chronic stress as predictors, PA level during the 15 min prior to data entry did not predict momentary fatigue level. Furthermore, there was no effect of condition. However, a significant cross-level interaction of perceived chronic stress with PA was observed. In fact, the (negative) relationship between PA and fatigue was stronger in those participants with less chronic stress. Neither cortisol nor α-amylase was significantly related to physical activity or fatigue. Our study showed an immediate short-term buffering effect of everyday life PA on general fatigue, but only when experiencing lower chronic stress. There seems to be no short-term benefit of PA in the face of higher chronic stress. These findings highlight the importance of considering chronic stress when evaluating the effectiveness of PA interventions in different target populations, in particular among chronically stressed and fatigued subjects.

Circadian variation of salivary immunoglobin A, alpha-amylase activity and mood in response to repeated double-poling sprints in hypoxia.

PURPOSE: To assess the circadian variations in salivary immunoglobin A (sIgA) and alpha-amylase activity (sAA), biomarkers of mucosal immune function, together with mood during 2 weeks of repeated sprint training in hypoxia (RSH) and normoxia (RSN). METHODS: Over a 2-week period, 17 competitive cross-country skiers performed six training sessions, each consisting of four sets of five 10-s bouts of all-out double-poling under either normobaric hypoxia (FiO2: 13.8%, 3000 m) or normoxia. The levels of sIgA and sAA activity and mood were determined five times during each of the first (T1) and sixth (T6) days of training, as well as during days preceding (baseline) and after the training intervention (follow-up). RESULTS: With RSH, sIgA was higher on T6 than T1 (P = 0.049), and sAA was increased on days T1, T6, and during the follow-up (P < 0.01). With RSN, sIgA remained unchanged and sAA was elevated on day T1 only (P = 0.04). Similarly, the RSH group demonstrated reduced mood on days T1, T6, and during the follow-up, while mood was lowered only on T1 with RSN (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The circadian variation of sIgA and sAA activity, biomarkers of mucosal immune function, as well as mood were similar on the first day of training when repeated double-poling sprints were performed with or without hypoxia. Only with RSH did the levels of sIgA and sAA activity rise with time, becoming maximal after six training sessions, when mood was still lowered. Therefore, six sessions of RSH reduced mood, but did not impair mucosal immune function.

Acute psychosocial stress induces differential short-term changes in catecholamine sensitivity of stimulated inflammatory cytokine production.

BACKGROUND: We have previously shown that psychosocial stress induces acute changes in glucocorticoid (GC) sensitivity of pro-inflammatory cytokine production. However, hormones of the sympathetic adrenal medullary system complement endocrine regulation of inflammatory responses. The current study therefore aimed at investigating the effects of repeated acute stress exposure on catecholamine sensitivity of inflammatory cytokine production. METHODS: Twenty healthy male participants were subjected to the Trier Social Stress Test on two consecutive days. Blood samples were taken before and repeatedly after stress. Whole blood was stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and incubated with increasing concentrations of epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) for 18h. Tumor-necrosis-factor (TNF) alpha and interleukin (IL)-6 were measured in culture supernatants. RESULTS: Overall, incubation with E and NE induced dose-dependent suppression of TNF-alpha (NE: F=77.66, p<.001; E: F=63.38, p<.001), and IL-6 production (NE: F=28.79, p<.001; E: F=24.66, p<.001). Acute stress exposure resulted in reduced sensitivity of TNF-alpha (NE: F=6.36, p<.001; E: F=4.86, p=.005), but not IL-6 (NE: F=1.07, p=.38; E: F=0.88, p=.50) to the inhibitory signals of E and NE. No evidence of habituation of these effects was found (all p⩾.22). CONCLUSIONS: The present findings extend our knowledge on changes in inflammatory target tissue sensitivity in response to acute psychosocial stress from glucocorticoid-dependent effects to catecholamine-dependent effects. Stress-induced decreases in catecholamine sensitivity thereby suggest intracellular processes aiding in maintaining a healthy endocrine-immune interplay. Longitudinal studies will have to investigate the processes leading from a supposedly beneficial short-term catecholamine resistance in response to acute stress to basal catecholamine resistance observed in relation to negative health outcomes.

Hormonal, metabolic, and cardiorespiratory responses of young and adult athletes to a single session of high-intensity cycle exercise.

This study aimed to determine the effects of a single high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session on salivary cortisol (SC) levels, physiological responses, and performance in trained boys and men. Twenty-three boys (11.5 ± 0.8 years) and 25 men (29.7 ± 4.6 years) performed HIIT (4 consecutive Wingate Anaerobic Tests). SC in boys and men increased after HIIT from 5.55 ± 3.3 nmol/l to 15.13 ± 9.7 nmol/l (+173%) and from 7.07 ± 4.7 nmol/l to 19.19 ± 12.7 nmol/l (+171%), respectively (p < .01). Pretest SC as well as posttest changes were comparable in both groups (both p < .01). Peak blood lactate concentration was significantly lower in boys (12.6 ± 3.5 mmol/l) than in men (16.3 ± 3.1 mmol/l; p < .01). Throughout the HIIT, mean heart rates in boys were higher (p < .001) but relative peak oxygen uptake (ml·min-1·kg-1; p < .05) and performance were lower (p < .001) in boys than in men. HIIT in young athletes is associated with a higher activation of the hormonal stress axis than other types of exercise regimes as described in the literature. This study is the first to show a pronounced SC increase to HIIT in trained boys accompanied by elevated levels of blood lactate concentrations and heart rate suggesting a high cardio-respiratory, metabolic, and hormonal response to HIIT in 11-year-old boys.

Starting in your mental pole position: hypnosis helps elite downhill Mountainbike athletes to reach their optimal racing mindset.

Introduction: Downhill Mountain Biking is an extreme sport requiring high mental strength to perform on the best level in a competition with only one run to win the race. The substantial challenge here is to control automatic processes like competitive anxiety and stress. Hypnosis can address these automatic processes. We developed and evaluated a hypnosis audio-intervention to activate the optimal racing mindset. Methods: In our study, 19 elite Downhill Mountainbike athletes registered at two consecutive races of the IXS Downhill Cup. After the first race, athletes listened to the hypnosis audio-intervention. In this intervention, we instructed the athletes how to activate their optimal mental state before the second race. At both races, we measured competitive anxiety, stress, self-confidence, state resilience, and flow with validated questionnaires and assessed resting heart rate variability as physiological measure of resilience. Results: Race-related somatic anxiety and subjective stress decreased significantly while self-confidence increased significantly from first to second race after athletes listened to the hypnosis. Heart rate variability was significantly increased at the second race indicating elevated vagal activity. When comparing race results of our participants to a control group of other elite athletes competing in the races but not listening to the hypnosis, we found that our study participants generally performed better in both races. Conclusion: The study shows that our hypnosis intervention was effective in reducing competitive anxiety and stress while increasing perceived resilience and self-confidence: After a self-administered hypnosis session, athletes were able to improve automatic processes responsible for putting them in their mental pole position.

How to modify expectations of social rejection? An experimental study using a false-feedback paradigm.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Negative expectations (NEs) are fundamental to various mental disorders. Finding ways to modulate NEs would help to improve clinical treatment. The present study investigated how previously formed expectations of social rejection are revised in the context of novel positive social experiences, and whether their revision can be modulated by differentially shifting participants' attentional focus. METHODS: Our sample of 124 healthy participants was randomly assigned to four experimental conditions and received manipulated social feedback in multiple alleged webcam conferences. All groups went through three experimental phases that began with predominantly negative social feedback, then either transitioned to predominantly positive social feedback or continued to predominantly negative social feedback, and ultimately transitioning to a phase with no explicit social feedback. The experimental conditions differed in what they were instructed to focus on when receiving positive social feedback. RESULTS: Receiving novel positive social feedback led to substantial changes in social expectations, but this effect was not modulated by the instructions the participants were given. Descriptive trends revealed that both instructions improved NE modification, although this effect was not robust to extinction in one condition. LIMITATIONS: To prevent our cover story from being compromised, we could not perform an immediate manipulation check of the instructions given. Nevertheless, some of the sample seemed suspicious about the cover story. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that established expectations of social rejection can be revised when unexpectedly experiencing social acceptance. Nevertheless, more research is needed on potential instructions that could be used to optimize the modification of NEs.