Anxiety, hormonal responses, and coping during a judo competition

Abstract

Competitive situations induced hormonal changes, depending on the outcome, victory or defeat. This study aimed to investigate the salivary testosterone (T) and cortisol (C) and the mental state responses to a real judo championship. Data about individuals’ anxiety levels, strategies of coping, and patterns of behavior were thus collected. The relationship between hormonal changes and psychological variables were also analyzed. Our results showed a C response to competition, which was especially characterized by an anticipatory rise. Depending on outcome, results did not show statistically significant different C responses. The T values noted after the last fight were significantly greater in the losers than those obtained in the winners. Hormonal response did not show a relationship with psychological variables depending on the outcome. Losers showed just before the first fight an elevated cognitive anxiety, accompanied by low self‐confidence. Moreover, they were characterized by type B behavior. Types of coping strategies also differentiated losers from winners. Finally, even if no relationships between hormonal and psychological variables depending on the outcome were found, our results showed that state and trait psychological variables, as well as the coping strategies, must be taken into account to better understand the response to competitive situations. Aggr. Behav. 27:55–63, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Effect of rapid weight loss on mood states and burnout of Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes during a competitive process

“…No differences in confusion were observed in athletes who lost weight in the present study, thus differing from other studies with combat sports athletes ( Barley et al, 2018 ), judo ( Filaire et al, 2001 ; Koral and Dosseville, 2009 ), MMA ( Brandt et al, 2018 ), and wrestling ( Marttinen et al, 2011 ). Furthermore, high levels of confusion showed a positive correlation with the magnitude of weight loss in amateur boxers ( Hall, 2001 ).…”

“…For the mood results, an effect was observed for the moment, with an increase in tension between the weigh-in and the beginning of weight loss, corroborating other studies with wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, MMA, and Muay-Thai athletes (Marttinen et al, 2011;Maynard et al, 2018;Nascimento-Carvalho et al, 2018). There was no difference in tension in athletes who lost weight in the present research, a fact that corroborates studies that showed high tension after weight loss among judo athletes (Filaire et al, 2001;Degoutte et al, 2006;Yoshioka et al, 2006;Koral and Dosseville, 2009). In these studies, values for weight loss and magnitude of weight loss were verified, ranging from 3 to 5 kg of weight loss and 3 to 5.6% of body mass loss.…”

Effect of rapid weight loss on mood states and burnout of Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes during a competitive process

“…No differences in confusion were observed in athletes who lost weight in the present study, thus differing from other studies with combat sports athletes ( Barley et al, 2018 ), judo ( Filaire et al, 2001 ; Koral and Dosseville, 2009 ), MMA ( Brandt et al, 2018 ), and wrestling ( Marttinen et al, 2011 ). Furthermore, high levels of confusion showed a positive correlation with the magnitude of weight loss in amateur boxers ( Hall, 2001 ).…”

“…For the mood results, an effect was observed for the moment, with an increase in tension between the weigh-in and the beginning of weight loss, corroborating other studies with wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, MMA, and Muay-Thai athletes (Marttinen et al, 2011;Maynard et al, 2018;Nascimento-Carvalho et al, 2018). There was no difference in tension in athletes who lost weight in the present research, a fact that corroborates studies that showed high tension after weight loss among judo athletes (Filaire et al, 2001;Degoutte et al, 2006;Yoshioka et al, 2006;Koral and Dosseville, 2009). In these studies, values for weight loss and magnitude of weight loss were verified, ranging from 3 to 5 kg of weight loss and 3 to 5.6% of body mass loss.…”

Competitive Stress Elicits Distinct Psychophysiological and Immunological Responses in Sub-Elite Water Polo Players

“…Specifically, players exhibited greater somatic and cognitive state anxiety and lower self-confidence in the pre-competitive phase compared to the training phase. These results are consistent with other studies that have demonstrated significant game effects on cognitive and somatic state anxiety, as well as self-confidence in various sports [ 51 , 52 , 53 ]. Somatic state anxiety is related to the perception of physiological responses to psychological stress [ 35 , 54 ].…”

“…Additionally, cognitive anxiety, which is associated with fear about the consequences of failure [ 55 , 56 ], was reported to be higher in competitive sessions compared to training matches. These findings are consistent with recent research in other sports, suggesting the anxiogenic nature of sports competitions [ 34 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 ]. Moreover, the high-anxiety state observed was concurrent with the anticipatory response of salivary cortisol, confirming the previously described relationship between cortisol and competition-related negative mood [ 34 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 ].…”

“…These findings are consistent with recent research in other sports, suggesting the anxiogenic nature of sports competitions [ 34 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 ]. Moreover, the high-anxiety state observed was concurrent with the anticipatory response of salivary cortisol, confirming the previously described relationship between cortisol and competition-related negative mood [ 34 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 ]. Therefore, cortisol concentrations before competitive sessions were significantly and positively correlated with cognitive and somatic anxiety scores.…”

Effect of rapid weight loss on mood states and burnout of Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes during a competitive process

“…No differences in confusion were observed in athletes who lost weight in the present study, thus differing from other studies with combat sports athletes ( Barley et al, 2018 ), judo ( Filaire et al, 2001 ; Koral and Dosseville, 2009 ), MMA ( Brandt et al, 2018 ), and wrestling ( Marttinen et al, 2011 ). Furthermore, high levels of confusion showed a positive correlation with the magnitude of weight loss in amateur boxers ( Hall, 2001 ).…”

“…For the mood results, an effect was observed for the moment, with an increase in tension between the weigh-in and the beginning of weight loss, corroborating other studies with wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, MMA, and Muay-Thai athletes (Marttinen et al, 2011;Maynard et al, 2018;Nascimento-Carvalho et al, 2018). There was no difference in tension in athletes who lost weight in the present research, a fact that corroborates studies that showed high tension after weight loss among judo athletes (Filaire et al, 2001;Degoutte et al, 2006;Yoshioka et al, 2006;Koral and Dosseville, 2009). In these studies, values for weight loss and magnitude of weight loss were verified, ranging from 3 to 5 kg of weight loss and 3 to 5.6% of body mass loss.…”

Competitive Stress Elicits Distinct Psychophysiological and Immunological Responses in Sub-Elite Water Polo Players

“…Specifically, players exhibited greater somatic and cognitive state anxiety and lower self-confidence in the pre-competitive phase compared to the training phase. These results are consistent with other studies that have demonstrated significant game effects on cognitive and somatic state anxiety, as well as self-confidence in various sports [ 51 , 52 , 53 ]. Somatic state anxiety is related to the perception of physiological responses to psychological stress [ 35 , 54 ].…”

“…Additionally, cognitive anxiety, which is associated with fear about the consequences of failure [ 55 , 56 ], was reported to be higher in competitive sessions compared to training matches. These findings are consistent with recent research in other sports, suggesting the anxiogenic nature of sports competitions [ 34 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 ]. Moreover, the high-anxiety state observed was concurrent with the anticipatory response of salivary cortisol, confirming the previously described relationship between cortisol and competition-related negative mood [ 34 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 ].…”

“…These findings are consistent with recent research in other sports, suggesting the anxiogenic nature of sports competitions [ 34 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 ]. Moreover, the high-anxiety state observed was concurrent with the anticipatory response of salivary cortisol, confirming the previously described relationship between cortisol and competition-related negative mood [ 34 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 ]. Therefore, cortisol concentrations before competitive sessions were significantly and positively correlated with cognitive and somatic anxiety scores.…”

Effect of rapid weight loss on mood states and burnout of Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes during a competitive process

“…No differences in confusion were observed in athletes who lost weight in the present study, thus differing from other studies with combat sports athletes ( Barley et al, 2018 ), judo ( Filaire et al, 2001 ; Koral and Dosseville, 2009 ), MMA ( Brandt et al, 2018 ), and wrestling ( Marttinen et al, 2011 ). Furthermore, high levels of confusion showed a positive correlation with the magnitude of weight loss in amateur boxers ( Hall, 2001 ).…”

“…For the mood results, an effect was observed for the moment, with an increase in tension between the weigh-in and the beginning of weight loss, corroborating other studies with wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, MMA, and Muay-Thai athletes (Marttinen et al, 2011;Maynard et al, 2018;Nascimento-Carvalho et al, 2018). There was no difference in tension in athletes who lost weight in the present research, a fact that corroborates studies that showed high tension after weight loss among judo athletes (Filaire et al, 2001;Degoutte et al, 2006;Yoshioka et al, 2006;Koral and Dosseville, 2009). In these studies, values for weight loss and magnitude of weight loss were verified, ranging from 3 to 5 kg of weight loss and 3 to 5.6% of body mass loss.…”

Competitive Stress Elicits Distinct Psychophysiological and Immunological Responses in Sub-Elite Water Polo Players

“…Specifically, players exhibited greater somatic and cognitive state anxiety and lower self-confidence in the pre-competitive phase compared to the training phase. These results are consistent with other studies that have demonstrated significant game effects on cognitive and somatic state anxiety, as well as self-confidence in various sports [ 51 , 52 , 53 ]. Somatic state anxiety is related to the perception of physiological responses to psychological stress [ 35 , 54 ].…”

“…Additionally, cognitive anxiety, which is associated with fear about the consequences of failure [ 55 , 56 ], was reported to be higher in competitive sessions compared to training matches. These findings are consistent with recent research in other sports, suggesting the anxiogenic nature of sports competitions [ 34 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 ]. Moreover, the high-anxiety state observed was concurrent with the anticipatory response of salivary cortisol, confirming the previously described relationship between cortisol and competition-related negative mood [ 34 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 ].…”

“…These findings are consistent with recent research in other sports, suggesting the anxiogenic nature of sports competitions [ 34 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 ]. Moreover, the high-anxiety state observed was concurrent with the anticipatory response of salivary cortisol, confirming the previously described relationship between cortisol and competition-related negative mood [ 34 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 ]. Therefore, cortisol concentrations before competitive sessions were significantly and positively correlated with cognitive and somatic anxiety scores.…”