Training vs. Competition in Sport: State Anxiety and Response of Stress Hormones in Young Swimmers

 Article (PDF) 
Authors
Luis Carrasco Paez, Inmaculada C. Martinez-Diaz
Abstract

This study was aimed to assess the neuroendocrine response to stress induced by different sports environments (a regular training session and a competitive event), to define the contribution of psychological and physical stress, and to check the possible relationship between state-anxiety and stress hormones responses to competitive and noncompetitive sports practices. Twelve young national-level male swimmers participated in this investigation. Endorphins, adrenocorticotropin, and prolactin plasma levels were measured at baseline conditions (t0), before a regular swimming training session (t1), and before and after real swimming competition consisting of 100 m freestyle (t2 and t3, respectively). Moreover, state-anxiety was evaluated in all assessment time-points. The results showed no differences in endorphin, adrenocorticotropin, prolactin and state-anxiety between t0 and t1; however, significant increases in endorphins (142%), prolactin (137%) and state-anxiety (13%) were observed in t2. Huge stress response was observed in t3 (increases of 354%, 387%, and 250% for endorphins, adrenocorticotropin, and prolactin, respectively) although state-anxiety decreased slightly. Lastly, a lack of the relationship between stress hormones and state-anxiety was found in all conditions. Mental and especially physical stress associated with sports competition induces a significant release of stress hormones which is not relevant for the regular training session.
DOI
DOI: 10.2478/hukin-2021-0087
Citation
 APA 
Carrasco Páez, L., Martínez-Díaz, I. C. (2021). Training vs. Competition in Sport: State Anxiety and Response of Stress Hormones in Young Swimmers. Journal of Human Kinetics, 80, 103-112. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2021-0087
 Harvard 
Carrasco Páez, L., and Martínez-Díaz, I. C. (2021). Training vs. Competition in Sport: State Anxiety and Response of Stress Hormones in Young Swimmers. Journal of Human Kinetics, 80, pp.103-112. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2021-0087
 MLA 
Carrasco Páez, Luis et al. “Training vs. Competition in Sport: State Anxiety and Response of Stress Hormones in Young Swimmers.” Journal of Human Kinetics, vol. 80, 2021, pp. 103-112. doi:10.2478/hukin-2021-0087.
 Vancouver 
Carrasco Páez L, Martínez-Díaz IC. Training vs. Competition in Sport: State Anxiety and Response of Stress Hormones in Young Swimmers. Journal of Human Kinetics. 2021;80:103-112. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2021-0087
Key words
stress, neuroendocrine response, sports competition, swimming

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