Hormonal responses to competition

Sports competitions have been employed to analyze the influence of social c onfrontations on hormonal levels. However, results have been inconsistent. Several variables such as outcome. physical exertion, mood and causal attri bution have been considered as important mediators of this influence. Our a im was to examine their role in the testosterone and cortisol responses to a real confrontation. To this end, twelve judoists who participated in a co mpetition between clubs were studied. Results showed non significant differ ences depending on outcome in hormones, physical exertion, mood and causal attribution: only satisfaction with the outcome being significant, interest ingly, testosterone response was positively associated with self-appraisal of performance and attribution of outcome to personal effort. Cortisol resp onse showed a very consistent relationship with negative mood. These findin gs support a clear association of competition-induced hormonal responses wi th cognitive and emotional aspects rather than with objective (outcome or p hysical exertion) characteristics of the situation.