RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Salivary steroids and psychometric parameters in male marathon runners.
JF British Journal of Sports Medicine
JO Br J Sports Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine
SP 89
OP 93
DO 10.1136/bjsm.23.2.89
VO 23
IS 2
A1 B Harris
A1 N J Cook
A1 R F Walker
A1 G F Read
A1 D Riad-Fahmy
YR 1989
UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/23/2/89.abstract
AB Testosterone and cortisol in male marathon runners (n = 11) were determined in saliva samples (n = 28) collected during the three rest days preceding a competitive marathon and in the samples collected at 08.00h on the race day. An Eysenck Personality Inventory was completed on the first rest day and psychological state was assessed on rest days and on the morning of the marathon by completion of visual analogue scales for anxiety, depression, hostility and libido at four times each day. Anxiety, depression and hostility were positively inter-correlated. Extraversion and depression were negatively correlated. At 08.00h on the day of the marathon, anxiety and hostility scores were significantly higher than those on rest days, but depression and libido scores were unchanged. No relationship was found between depression or libido and any hormonal parameter. Race day cortisol correlated negatively with hostility, and changes in cortisol (09.00h) between the race day and the mean rest-day levels correlated with the corresponding changes in anxiety.