Hormonal Balance in Stress, Fatigue, and Recovery: Dynamics of Pre-Competition Responses

NCT ID: NCT06917677

Last Updated: 2025-07-08

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 30 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-10-20
• Study Completion Date: 2023-12-02

Brief Summary

This observational study investigates how elite athletes respond physiologically and psychologically to pre-competitive stress in the context of a high-stakes performance test. The study focuses on the dynamic changes in stress-related hormonal biomarkers and self-reported psychological states across three key phases: mobilization (pre-exercise anticipation), fatigue (immediate post-effort), and recovery (1 hour and 24 hours post-exercise). The performance test serves as part of a qualification process for national and international championship competitions, providing an ecologically valid model of competitive stress. Blood samples and validated psychological questionnaires are used to assess hormonal fluctuations and subjective stress responses at four time points.

The main question it aims to answer is:

How do key hormonal markers and self-reported psychological stress levels change across the mobilization-fatigue-recovery cycle surrounding a competitive performance?

Detailed Description

Elite athletes frequently experience intense psychological and physiological stress before and during high-stakes competitions. While a certain level of pre-competitive stress is necessary for optimal performance, excessive or poorly regulated stress can negatively affect both performance outcomes and recovery. The body's response to stress involves complex neuroendocrine mechanisms, including the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the release of stress-related hormones and neuromodulators. These include cortisol, testosterone, dopamine, serotonin, β-endorphins, and endocannabinoids such as anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG).

This observational cohort study aims to explore the dynamic changes in both hormonal and psychological stress responses across four time points-before, immediately after, 1 hour after, and 24 hours after-a standardized, high-intensity rowing performance test. This test is part of the official national team selection process and simulates the psychological and physical demands of real-world competition, making it an ecologically valid model for investigating stress.

Participants are elite rowers (men and women) who are current members of the national team. The test represents a critical selection tool for major championship events (e.g., World and National Championships), creating a natural, high-pressure environment to study pre-competitive stress. All participants provide blood samples at four time points and complete validated psychological questionnaires (including CSAI-2 and SCAT) before the test.

The study's primary outcomes include blood concentrations of stress- and motivation-related hormones (cortisol, testosterone, dopamine, serotonin, β-endorphin, anandamide, 2-AG), and scores from standardized psychological stress inventories assessing cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and self-confidence. These variables are evaluated across the mobilization-fatigue-recovery cycle to capture both immediate and delayed responses to competitive stress.

Secondary outcomes include anthropometric measurements (height, body weight, body mass index, body composition, and training history), which will be used to describe the participant cohort and assess potential moderating factors.

This study is novel in its scope and methodology, integrating a broad panel of biological stress markers with subjective psychological assessments across multiple time points. While previous research has focused primarily on cortisol in isolated pre- or post-competition measures, this study tracks dynamic, time-resolved changes across the full stress-recovery spectrum. Furthermore, the inclusion of dopamine, β-endorphins, and endocannabinoids represents a rare and innovative attempt to explore less-studied but potentially critical components of the athlete stress response.

This study will provide new insights into the mechanisms of resilience, adaptation, and recovery in elite sport by evaluating how hormonal and psychological indicators shift together or diverge. Findings may help coaches, sports psychologists, and medical professionals better monitor athlete well-being, identify signs of overreaching or maladaptive stress, and develop more personalized strategies for performance readiness and mental support.

Conditions

Healthy

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

Rowers

A single group of national-level rowers performing a 2000-meter maximal effort test as part of a qualification process. All participants undergo the same protocol with repeated measurements before and after exercise.

2000-meter maximal effort test on rowing ergometer

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will perform a 2000-meter maximal effort test on a Concept II rowing ergometer, aiming to complete the distance in the shortest possible time. The test simulates a competitive race and serves as a qualification trial. It will be conducted under medical supervision and is intended to induce a high level of physiological and psychological stress representative of elite competition.

Interventions

2000-meter maximal effort test on rowing ergometer

Participants will perform a 2000-meter maximal effort test on a Concept II rowing ergometer, aiming to complete the distance in the shortest possible time. The test simulates a competitive race and serves as a qualification trial. It will be conducted under medical supervision and is intended to induce a high level of physiological and psychological stress representative of elite competition.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Aged 18-24 years
• Member of the national rowing team
• Actively participating in training and selection processes
• Medically cleared for high-intensity exercise by a team physician

Exclusion Criteria

• Current injury or illness affecting physical performance
• Use of medications that may influence hormonal or psychological responses (e.g., corticosteroids, antidepressants, hormonal therapies)
• Diagnosed neurological, or endocrine disorders
• Refusal to provide blood samples or complete questionnaires

• Minimum Eligible Age: 19 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 24 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Poznan University of Physical Education

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Anna Skarpańska-Stejborn, Professor

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Poznań University of Physical Education, Faculty of Sport Sciences in Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland;

Locations

Poznań University of Physical Education

Poznan, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland

Countries

Poland

Other Identifiers

Rowers 2023a

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id