Perceived anxiety and plasma cortisol concentrations following rock climbing with differing safety rope protocols

Abstract

Objectives: To examine how different safety rope protocols impact on subjective anxiety and self-confidence levels and plasma cortisol concentrations and the relationship between subjective states and cortisol during rock climbing. Methods: Participants (n = 12) were tested in three climbing conditions that were designed to invoke low, moderate and high physical and mental stress. Plasma cortisol concentrations were collected before and after climbing and participants reported subjective anxiety and self-confidence states for each climb.Results: Repeated measures analysis of variance showed significant differences between conditions for somatic anxiety (F 2, 22 = 7.74, p = 0.009), self-confidence (F 2, 22 = 9.52, p = 0.001) and change in plasma cortisol concentration (F 2, 22 = 3.71, p = 0.041). Preplanned polynomial comparisons showed that these were linear effects; somatic anxiety was higher in the higher stress conditions whilst self-confidence was lower. Plasma cortisol concentration change was also linear. Regression analyses showed cubic relationships between plasma cortisol concentration and cognitive anxiety (R 2 = 0.452), self-confidence (R 2 = 0.281) and somatic anxiety (R 2 = 0.268). Conclusions: There is a relationship between plasma cortisol concentration and subjective anxiety and selfconfidence states during rock climbing. Changes in the way the safety rope is organised can impact on anxiety, cortisol concentration and self-confidence during rock climbing.

Current understanding in climbing psychophysiology research

“…Hardy and Hutchinson's (2007) first study demonstrated significantly greater Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE), HR and RCAI measures of cognitive and somatic anxiety and activation, between an outdoor lead at a climbers limit minus two grades and at their on-sight limit; whilst Hardy and Hutchinson's (2007) third study showed significant elevation of cognitive anxiety and effort and reduction in activation and performance between a top-rope then top-rope climb and a lead then top-rope climb. Finally, Hodgson et al (2009) demonstrated significantly increased somatic anxiety and decreased self-confidence, as reported by the CSAI-2R, and increased plasma cortisol concentration between a top-rope and lead climb.…”

“…The experience stated above, may differ from the experiences given in the original papers, as the abilities have been standardised, for ease of comparison, using the grading charts set out by Draper, Canalejo, et al (2011). It should also be noted that no indication of climbing grades were given by Hodgson et al (2009) Pijpers et al (2003), in lower-grade climbers by Hardy and Hutchinson (2007) and in intermediate climbers by Hodgson et al (2009). Pijpers et al (2003) found significantly greater heart rate (HR), movement entropy and blood lactate in high over low traverse conditions.…”

“…The style of ascent, with lead and/or top-rope conditions, is widely used as a stimulus and potential stressor in climbing literature Draper et al, 2010Draper et al, , 2012Hardy & Hutchinson, 2007). In further two studies, a more contrived top-rope with a trailing lead rope has been used (Aras & Akalan, 2011;Hodgson et al, 2009). Alternatively, Pijpers et al (2003) used a high and low traverse protected by a top-rope.…”

“…Cortisol is secreted by the adrenal cortex under the influence of the HPA axis in response to psychological and/or physiological stress (Wittert et al, 1996). Within climbing psychophysiology research, cortisol has been extensively used as a marker of stress (Aras & Akalan, 2011;Dickson, Fryer, Blackwell, et al, 2012;Fryer, Dickson, Draper, Eltom, et al, 2012;Hodgson et al, 2009). The sampling and assay of cortisol is normally conducted on either salivary or plasma samples.…”

“…Through the psychophysiological analysis of the stimuli, researchers are provided with a unique insight into affective states arising from the demands of the sport, along with the impact that they have on individuals' performance (Draper, Jones, Fryer, Hodgson, & Blackwell, 2008;Hodgson et al, 2009). …”