Fear and performance in novice parachutists

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Abstract
Trainee parachutists were tested on two occasions during a two-day training course. The first test was always on day 1 when no jumping occurred, while the second test either occurred on the afternoon of day 1 (control group) or occurred immediately prior to entering the aircraft for their first ever jump on the afternoon of day 2 (fear group). Level of anxiety was assessed both subjectively and by ambulatory heart-rate monitoring, and a range of performance tests were given. Subjects proved to be significantly more anxious in the pre-jump fear condition on both subjective and heart-rate measures. A significant decrement in performance was observed for digit span, logical reasoning test accuracy (though not speed), speed of letter search and speed of performing the visuo-spatial Manikin test. Stroop task performance was not influenced by anxiety. There was no correlation between rated jump performance and either anxiety or personality as measured by the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire.