Zniva Richard, Pauli Paul, Schulz Stefan M
Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; Department of Psychology I, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; Department of Psychology I, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Biol Psychol. 2017 Feb;123:226-234. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2016.12.009. Epub 2016 Dec 23.
Self-determination theory suggests that autonomy-enhancing social support helps individuals to perceive stressors as challenging rather than stressing. Overprotective support may reduce stress in the short-run but undermines autonomy, thus hampering stress-coping in the long run, particularly when social support is terminated.
Heartrate, blood-pressure and ratings were examined in N=44 undergraduate students receiving autonomy support (calculation steps) or overprotection (solutions) from a close friend or no support for solving arithmetic tasks as well as during a subsequent stress-challenge (solving arithmetic tasks alone).
Overprotection resulted in increased heartrate, diastolic blood-pressure, stress ratings, and decreased subjective control during stress-challenge. Autonomy support did not lead to unfavorable stress responding.
The current findings are in line with assumptions derived from self-determination theory and indicate that autonomy support can help to prevent stress. Overprotection does not buffer stress and is associated with increased stress when discontinued.
自我决定理论表明，增强自主性的社会支持有助于个体将压力源视为具有挑战性而非产生压力的因素。过度保护的支持可能在短期内减轻压力，但会损害自主性，从而从长远来看阻碍压力应对，尤其是在社会支持终止时。
对44名本科生进行了心率、血压和评分检查，这些学生在解决算术任务时，有的从亲密朋友那里得到自主性支持（计算步骤），有的得到过度保护（解决方案），有的没有得到支持，随后在压力挑战（独自解决算术任务）期间也进行了检查。
过度保护导致在压力挑战期间心率加快、舒张压升高、压力评分增加以及主观控制感下降。自主性支持并未导致不良的压力反应。
当前的研究结果与自我决定理论的假设一致，表明自主性支持有助于预防压力。过度保护并不能缓冲压力，并且在停止时会导致压力增加。
