Serum cortisol, testosterone, and testosterone-binding globulin responses to competitive fighting in human males

Abstract

Levels of circulating cortisol, testosterone, and testosterone‐binding globulin were measured in 15 male wrestlers in relation to wrestling bouts and their outcomes. Concentrations of cortisol and testosterone increased consistently during wrestling bouts, while levels of testosterone‐binding globulin dropped. Winners of competive matches showed greater increases in both cortisol and testosterone than losers. These findings indicate that humans, like other social mammals, may undergo specific endocrine changes in response to victory or defeat.

Testosterone, Cortisol, and Mood in a Sports Team Competition

“…In accordance with our results, the outcome of a real sports team competition does not induce different T patterns, as was expected from Mazur's (1985) biosocial hypothesis of status. This finding agrees with some previous findings in individual sports competitions (Booth et al, 1989;Mazur and Lamb, 1980;Salvador et al, 1987Salvador et al, , 1990Suay, Salvador, Gonzalez-Bono, Sanchís, Martínez, Martínez-Sanchís, Simó n, and Montoro, 1998), but contrasts with others (Elias, 1981;Gladue et al, 1989;McCaul et al, 1992) employing a similar period (15 min postevent) considered optimum for detecting T changes after psychological stimulation (Hellhammer, Hubert, and Schurmeyer, 1985). Cortisol increased in both teams, which confirms the lack of differences between winners and losers consistently found (Salvador et al, 1987;Booth et al, 1989;Gladue et al, 1989;McCaul et al, 1992).…”

Testosterone, Cortisol, and Mood in a Sports Team Competition

“…In accordance with our results, the outcome of a real sports team competition does not induce different T patterns, as was expected from Mazur's (1985) biosocial hypothesis of status. This finding agrees with some previous findings in individual sports competitions (Booth et al, 1989;Mazur and Lamb, 1980;Salvador et al, 1987Salvador et al, , 1990Suay, Salvador, Gonzalez-Bono, Sanchís, Martínez, Martínez-Sanchís, Simó n, and Montoro, 1998), but contrasts with others (Elias, 1981;Gladue et al, 1989;McCaul et al, 1992) employing a similar period (15 min postevent) considered optimum for detecting T changes after psychological stimulation (Hellhammer, Hubert, and Schurmeyer, 1985). Cortisol increased in both teams, which confirms the lack of differences between winners and losers consistently found (Salvador et al, 1987;Booth et al, 1989;Gladue et al, 1989;McCaul et al, 1992).…”

Single Aggressive Interactions Increase Urinary Glucocorticoid Levels in Wild Male Chimpanzees

“…In addition, higher ranking male opponents had greater increases in uGC levels than lower ranking males. Sample sizes were small but our results are comparable to previous studies showing raised plasma cortisol in both winners and losers in humans [ 25 ], rodents [ 42 ] and fish [ 7 ], suggesting that for male chimpanzees aggressive interactions are costly, regardless of the individual’s role in the conflict.…”

The Responses of Physiological Stress during Table Tennis Competition in Elite Female Players

“…Also winners of match and training situations had significantly higher self-confidence and lower cognitive anxiety and somatic anxiety scores than losers (21). Elias (1981) reported that Cortisol increases in winners than in losers after wrestling bouts (32); whiles Passelergue and Lac (1999) showed no differences between losers' and winner's concentrations of Cortisol during a real wrestling competition (11). Also Suay et al (1999) reported higher Cortisol levels in winners compared to losers throughout a judo competition (33).…”

Testosterone, Cortisol, and Mood in a Sports Team Competition

“…In accordance with our results, the outcome of a real sports team competition does not induce different T patterns, as was expected from Mazur's (1985) biosocial hypothesis of status. This finding agrees with some previous findings in individual sports competitions (Booth et al, 1989;Mazur and Lamb, 1980;Salvador et al, 1987Salvador et al, , 1990Suay, Salvador, Gonzalez-Bono, Sanchís, Martínez, Martínez-Sanchís, Simó n, and Montoro, 1998), but contrasts with others (Elias, 1981;Gladue et al, 1989;McCaul et al, 1992) employing a similar period (15 min postevent) considered optimum for detecting T changes after psychological stimulation (Hellhammer, Hubert, and Schurmeyer, 1985). Cortisol increased in both teams, which confirms the lack of differences between winners and losers consistently found (Salvador et al, 1987;Booth et al, 1989;Gladue et al, 1989;McCaul et al, 1992).…”

Single Aggressive Interactions Increase Urinary Glucocorticoid Levels in Wild Male Chimpanzees

“…In addition, higher ranking male opponents had greater increases in uGC levels than lower ranking males. Sample sizes were small but our results are comparable to previous studies showing raised plasma cortisol in both winners and losers in humans [ 25 ], rodents [ 42 ] and fish [ 7 ], suggesting that for male chimpanzees aggressive interactions are costly, regardless of the individual’s role in the conflict.…”

The Responses of Physiological Stress during Table Tennis Competition in Elite Female Players

“…Also winners of match and training situations had significantly higher self-confidence and lower cognitive anxiety and somatic anxiety scores than losers (21). Elias (1981) reported that Cortisol increases in winners than in losers after wrestling bouts (32); whiles Passelergue and Lac (1999) showed no differences between losers' and winner's concentrations of Cortisol during a real wrestling competition (11). Also Suay et al (1999) reported higher Cortisol levels in winners compared to losers throughout a judo competition (33).…”

Testosterone, Cortisol, and Mood in a Sports Team Competition

“…In accordance with our results, the outcome of a real sports team competition does not induce different T patterns, as was expected from Mazur's (1985) biosocial hypothesis of status. This finding agrees with some previous findings in individual sports competitions (Booth et al, 1989;Mazur and Lamb, 1980;Salvador et al, 1987Salvador et al, , 1990Suay, Salvador, Gonzalez-Bono, Sanchís, Martínez, Martínez-Sanchís, Simó n, and Montoro, 1998), but contrasts with others (Elias, 1981;Gladue et al, 1989;McCaul et al, 1992) employing a similar period (15 min postevent) considered optimum for detecting T changes after psychological stimulation (Hellhammer, Hubert, and Schurmeyer, 1985). Cortisol increased in both teams, which confirms the lack of differences between winners and losers consistently found (Salvador et al, 1987;Booth et al, 1989;Gladue et al, 1989;McCaul et al, 1992).…”

Single Aggressive Interactions Increase Urinary Glucocorticoid Levels in Wild Male Chimpanzees

“…In addition, higher ranking male opponents had greater increases in uGC levels than lower ranking males. Sample sizes were small but our results are comparable to previous studies showing raised plasma cortisol in both winners and losers in humans [ 25 ], rodents [ 42 ] and fish [ 7 ], suggesting that for male chimpanzees aggressive interactions are costly, regardless of the individual’s role in the conflict.…”

The Responses of Physiological Stress during Table Tennis Competition in Elite Female Players

“…Also winners of match and training situations had significantly higher self-confidence and lower cognitive anxiety and somatic anxiety scores than losers (21). Elias (1981) reported that Cortisol increases in winners than in losers after wrestling bouts (32); whiles Passelergue and Lac (1999) showed no differences between losers' and winner's concentrations of Cortisol during a real wrestling competition (11). Also Suay et al (1999) reported higher Cortisol levels in winners compared to losers throughout a judo competition (33).…”