Anxiety, hormonal responses, and coping during a judo competition

Competitive situations induced hormonal changes, depending on the outcome, victory or defeat. This study aimed to investigate the salivary testosteron e (T) and cortisol (C) and the mental state responses to a real judo champi onship. Data about individuals' anxiety levels, strategies of coping, and p atterns of behavior were thus collected. The relationship between hormonal changes and psychological variables were also analyzed. Our results showed a C response to competition, which was especially characterized by an antic ipatory rise. Depending on outcome, results did not show statistically sign ificant different C responses. The T values noted after the last Eight were significantly greater in the losers than those obtained in the winners. Ho rmonal response did not show a relationship with psychological variables de pending on the outcome. Losers showed just before the first fight an elevat ed cognitive anxiety, accompanied by low self-confidence. Moreover, they we re characterized by type B behavior. Types of coping strategies also differ entiated losers from winners. Finally, even if no relationships between hor monal and psychological variables depending on the outcome were found, our results showed that state and trait psychological variables, as well as the coping strategies, must be taken into account to better understand the res ponse to competitive situations. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.