To the Pointe: How Dancer’s Optimism Levels

Predict Responses to Stress

Presented at:

UCI Undergraduate Research Symposium

by

Elisa Roe

May 14, 2005

Acknowledgements• Professor Linda Levine• Professor Valerie Jenness• Heather Lench• UCI Dance Department

•This project was funded by

The UCI Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program

Question

• I conducted a study to find out:

– If being optimistic when dealing with a stressful situation will lead to better physical health and lower anxiety.

– Do certain types of goals determine these positive outcomes as well?

Why Dancers?

•Dance has been shown to prevent, reduce, and induce stress.

•Prevent: positive self perception, physical well being

•Reduce: expression of emotion, diversion

•Induce: injury, body-image, competition

What determines how a dancer responds?

(Hanna, 1989)

Stress

• Stressor: an event that would require functioning beyond a person’s usual level of skill

• Stress Appraisal: Evaluation of the stressor- “Does this exceed what I can handle?”

• Stress Response: Reaction;

- physical, emotional, behavioral.

Responses to Stress

• Physical– Poor general health, more pain,

fatigue

• Emotional– Decreased Happiness, Anxiety

Optimism

• Optimists: people who expect to have positive outcomes, even when things are difficult, or despite pressure.

• Optimists focus on positive aspects of stressful situation

• Low in optimism focus on stressful aspects involved with the situation.

•(Scheier, Carver & Bridges, 1994).

(Carver, 2004 ; Lench, 2005)

Approach vs. Avoidance Goals

Goal Setting

*Approach*

Attain desired outcome

*Avoidance*

Avoid undesired outcome

Hypothesis 1

• Dancers with high levels of optimism will have– better health & wellbeing at the end of the quarter– lower anxiety in response to stress

• In comparison to dancers low in optimism.

• This relationship between optimism and outcomes will be mediated by their emotions.

Hypothesis 2

• This relationship between goal setting and outcomes will be mediated by their emotions.

• Dancers who set approach goals will have–better health & wellbeing at the end of the quarter–lower anxiety in response to stress

• In comparison to dancers who set avoidance goals.

Methodology

• 117 UCI dance students• Majors: 89 dance

23 drama 3 other

• Mean: 11 years of dance Level 3

• Completed online surveys – Week 3 – Week 8

Time 1

• Measures

Emotion Happy, Sad, Anxious, Relief, Angry

Optimism Life Orientation Test (LOT-R) (Scheier, Carver, & Bridges, 1994)

Coping COPE Survey (Carver et al., 1989)

Goal Settings Dance Goals Survey

Anxiety Stress Inventory (STAI) (Spielberger, 1986 )

Health RAND Health Survey, SF-36 (Rand, 2001)

• Measures

Time 2

Emotion Happy, Sad, Anxious, Relief, Angry

Goal Settings Dance Goals Survey

Anxiety Stress Inventory (STAI) (Spielberger, 1986 )

Health RAND Health Survey, SF-36 (Rand, 2001)

Results: Is Dance Stressful?

• YES, here’s why….

• Fun Facts: – *More tired as the quarter went on ( t (98 ) = .978 , p < .000 )

– *Attendance decreased, ( t (100) = -3.77 , p < .000 )

– *Higher level dancers had more physical symptoms of stress. ( t (81) = 2.84 , p < .006 )

Does Optimism Relate to Positive Outcomes?

Health Anxiety Wellbeing

High Optimism

Low Optimism

* Results significant at p<.05

*

*

*

Does Goal Setting Relate to Positive Outcomes?

Health Anxiety Wellbeing

High Approach

High Avoidance

* Results significant at p<.05

*

*

Emotional Responses

•Results significant at p<.05

Optimism Goals

Happiness Anxiety

Results

Optimism Health.36*** (.28**)

(.14)

Happy.38*** .31**

.36***Optimism Health

-.32**Anxiety -.49***

Results 2

(-.09)-.22*

Avoidance Goals

Health

.26*Anxiety -.49***

Discussion :

• Higher Optimism Better Health

• Avoidance Goals Worse Health

• These relationships are partially

accounted for by emotions.

Implications

• Furthers the current understanding of optimism and stress

• Might aid dancers in learning to deal with the pressures and stressors that are associated with the pursuit of a dance career.

• Adds to under researched topic

of dance

• Other Students, High Pressure Jobs, Athletes in general

Future Directions

• Explore exactly how Happiness and Anxiety are related to health.

• Study other highly stressful occupations or athletes

Thank You!

For Further Information:

Elisa RoeDepartment of Psychology and Social Behavior

Department of DanceUniversity of California, Irvine

eroe@uci.edu