The effect of positive emotions on psychophysiological recovery and performance in athletes - investigating the undoing-hypothesis.

Abstract

Athletes have to cope with psychosocial and physiological stressors, requiring recovery to ensure subsequent performance. According to the undoing-hypothesis, positive emotions (PE) may enhance psychophysiological recovery. The present two studies investigated the undoing hypothesis and its benefits for athletes' cognitive (Study 1; n = 60) and motor (Study 2; n = 30) performance. After a combined psychosocial-physiological stressor, participants either completed a five-minute PE induction (music; imagination exercise) or were assigned to a resting condition. Emotions, perceived stress-recovery, and physiological parameters (e.g., heart rate, heart rate variability, cortisol) were assessed. In Study 1, inhibition and cognitive flexibility were measured once. In Study 2, hand force and jump height were measured using a pre-posttest design. Due to the lack of psychological stress responses and successful PE induction, no conclusions could be drawn regarding the undoing hypothesis. Nevertheless, the present study provides valuable methodological insights into the challenges of testing the undoing hypothesis in athletes. These insights can inform the design and implementation of future studies and thereby contribute to advancing research on the undoing hypothesis in athletic populations.