Salivary steroid response and competitive anxiety in elite basketball players: Effect of opponent level

Author(s)

Arruda, Ademir F. S. ; Aoki, Marcelo S. ; Paludo, Ana Carolina ; Moreira, Alexandre

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Physiology & Behavior; v. 177, p. 291-296, AUG 1 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 11

Abstract

This study examined the effect of playing matches against different opponent teams (hard match; HM, medium match; MM, and easy match; EM) on pre-match testosterone concentration (T), pre-to-post match cortisol (C) concentration, and pre-competitive anxiety (CSAI-2 questionnaire) in 20 elite male basketball players. One training session (TS) was also assessed (control condition). Saliva steroids were determined by ELISA. The pre-T concentration was significantly lower for the TS (163 +/- 54 pmol L-1), compared to the three official matches (EM: 208 82 pmol L-1, MM: 213 57 pmol L-1, and HM: 218 37 pmol L-1 (p < 0.05). A significant change in C from pre-to-post was observed for all conditions (TS {[}5.8 +/- 3.7 vs 14.4 +/- 9.4 eta mol L-1], EM {[}10.1 +/- 4.9 vs 17.3 +/- 10.2 eta mol L-1], MM {[}13.0 +/- 7.4 vs 21.5 +/- 8.3 eta mol L-1], and HM {[}18.9 +/- 5.8 vs 31.4 +/- 5.3 eta mol L-1 (p < 0.05). A higher PRE-C was observed for the HM, compared to TS and EM (p < 0.05) and a higher POST-C concentration for the HM was detected, compared to the TS, EM, and MM (p < 0.05). A lower anxiety level was observed for the EM (somatic: 15.0 +/- 3.7; cognitive: 15.8 +/- 4.5 arbitrary units {[}AU]) compared, to the MM (somatic: 16.4 +/- 3.5; cognitive: 17.7 +/- 4.0 AU) and HM (somatic: 15.8 +/- 3.9; cognitive: 18.3 +/- 3.9 AU) (p < 0.05) and a higher self-confidence was observed for the TS (28.9 +/- 5.1 AU), compared to the HM (26.7 +/- 3.0 AU) (p < 0.05). These results suggest that playing against a high-level opponent may cause a higher psychobiological stress, likely because opponent level may be perceived as threating to the social status in a given hierarchy. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/13325-3 - The effect of the opponent level, competitive phase, and performance on hormonal and behavioural responses of youth basketball players: an approach based on the Biosocial model status
• Grantee: Alexandre Moreira
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants