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JOURNAL
OF
SPORTS SCIENCE &
MEDICINE
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Research
article
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PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES IN THE PRE-COMPETITION PERIOD IN ELITE SOCCER PLAYERS |
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Déborah Alix-Sy1  ,
Christine Le Scanff1 and Edith Filaire2 |
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1Centre de Recherches en Sciences du Sport, Université Paris-Sud 11, UFR STAPS, Cedex, France 2LAPSEP, UFRSTAPS Orléans, Orléans Cedex, France |
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© Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2008) 7, 446 - 454 Search Google Scholar for Citing Articles |
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| ABSTRACT | |||
| This study investigated pre-competition physiological and psychological
states of eighteen elite soccer players. Salivary cortisol was assessed
during a non- training day and before three league games. Affective states
(unpleasant and pleasant, somatic and transactional emotions) were evaluated
using the Tension and Effort-Stress Inventory before the three league games.
Participants formed 2 groups, 11 starters and 7 non-starters, depending
on the starting list established by the coach. All players reported more
intense pleasant transactional and somatic emotions than unpleasant ones
prior to all games (p < 0.05), and relatively stable profiles of these
psychological responses were observed across the three league games. However,
salivary cortisol levels increased during pre-game for all players in comparison
with the non- training day (p < 0.001). This anticipatory rise was only
related to unpleasant somatic emotions (p < 0.001). This demonstrates
that cortisol can be used as an index of emotional response to competition.
Key words: Emotions, affect, salivary cortisol. |
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