Diferències entre sexes en la resposta cardiovascular, hormonal i psicològica a una competició: Variables moduladores i facilitadors de la victòria

Competition is a social interaction where there is a confrontation between individuals or groups to achieve an objective. In our society competition is present transversally, with consequences for individuals. Therefore, competition is considered a social stressor able to elicit important psychobiological responses. From an evolutionary perspective, it has been suggested that, against stress situations, men would be more likely to fight-and-flight, while women would be more likely to tend-and-befriend strategies. Consequently, different psychobiological response to competition can be described depending on sex. A large proportion of studies on competition were based on the biosocial status model (Mazur, 1985), and have been carried out mainly in men and focused on the hormonal response. However, literature provided heterogeneous results respect to competition and outcome effects. It was suggested the need to include the emotional state, cognitive appraisal, and ANS response, as well as considering sex differences, in order to reach a comprehensive view of the psychobiological response to competition. We conducted an investigation with the aim of explain sex differences to competition and determine victory facilitator variables. Participants were healthy and young university students from both sexes in same-sex dyads. Our three experiments were carried out employing a common methodology with a competitive group and a non-competitive group. In addition we measured psychobiological variables before, during and after the competitive/non-competitive task. The studies included in this thesis showed the following main results: Competition elicited higher psychophysiological response than non-competition, characterized by increases in SBP and greater perception of emotional activation and performance in the competitive group. During competition, winners reported higher dominance and positive emotional valence, and showed greater R-R reactivity than losers. After competition, winners displayed greater positive emotional valence, dominance, perceived performance and R-R recovery, as well as less frustration and external attribution than losers. However, no competition or outcome effect was found on T or C. There is a bidirectional relationship between the hormonal levels and the emotional state, moderated by sex and the outcome, and there are differences between the sexes in the psychobiological response to competition. Finally, it was described a winner profile, characterized by high levels of competitiveness, motivation, self-efficacy and reactivity of the FC, and low anxiety. In conclusion, our results pointed out that psychological factors, associated with threat and challenge sates, have a great influence on the performance/result, and on the biological response. On the other hand, our research reveals that, although men and women respond to competition, sex and outcome are moderating this response.Competition is a social interaction where there is a confrontation between individuals or groups to achieve an objective. In our society competition is present transversally, with consequences for individuals. Therefore, competition is considered a social stressor able to elicit important psychobiological responses. From an evolutionary perspective, it has been suggested that, against stress situations, men would be more likely to fight-and-flight, while women would be more likely to tend-and-befriend strategies. Consequently, different psychobiological response to competition can be described depending on sex. A large proportion of studies on competition were based on the biosocial status model (Mazur, 1985), and have been carried out mainly in men and focused on the hormonal response. However, literature provided heterogeneous results respect to competition and outcome effects. It was suggested the need to include the emotional state, cognitive appraisal, and ANS response, as well as considering sex differences, in order to reach a comprehensive view of the psychobiological response to competition. We conducted an investigation with the aim of explain sex differences to competition and determine victory facilitator variables. Participants were healthy and young university students from both sexes in same-sex dyads. Our three experiments were carried out employing a common methodology with a competitive group and a non-competitive group. In addition we measured psychobiological variables before, during and after the competitive/non-competitive task. The studies included in this thesis showed the following main results: Competition elicited higher psychophysiological response than non-competition, characterized by increases in SBP and greater perception of emotional activation and performance in the competitive group. During competition, winners reported higher dominance and positive emotional valence, and showed greater R-R reactivity than losers. After competition, winners displayed greater positive emotional valence, dominance, perceived performance and R-R recovery, as well as less frustration and external attribution than losers. However, no competition or outcome effect was found on T or C. There is a bidirectional relationship between the hormonal levels and the emotional state, moderated by sex and the outcome, and there are differences between the sexes in the psychobiological response to competition. Finally, it was described a winner profile, characterized by high levels of competitiveness, motivation, self-efficacy and reactivity of the FC, and low anxiety. In conclusion, our results pointed out that psychological factors, associated with threat and challenge sates, have a great influence on the performance/result, and on the biological response. On the other hand, our research reveals that, although men and women respond to competition, sex and outcome are moderating this response