Physical fitness and prior physical activity are both associated with less cortisol secretion during psychosocial stress. Issue 2 (4th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wood, Carly J.; Clow, Angela; Hucklebridge, Frank; Law, Robin; Smyth, Nina
• Is Part Of: Anxiety, stress, and coping. Volume 31:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 135
• Page End: 145
• Publication Date: 2018-03-04
• Subjects: Fitness -- psychosocial stress -- physical activity -- cortisol -- health; Anxiety -- Periodicals; Anxiety -- Research -- Periodicals; Anxiety -- periodicals; Stress -- periodicals; Adaptation, Psychological -- periodicals; 616.8522
• DOI: 10.1080/10615806.2017.1390083
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1061-5806

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: Evidence linking fitness and decreased psychosocial stress comes from studies of athletes and typically relies upon self-report measures. Furthermore, there is little evidence regarding the impact of physical activity (PA) prior to a stressor. The aims of this study were to determine whether fitness and prior PA influence cortisol concentrations during psychosocial stress. Methods: Seventy-five non-athletic participants took part in a submaximal walk prior to the Trier Social Stress Test for Groups (TSST-G). During the walk, fitness was assessed using heart rate (HR). A further 89 participants took part in the TSST-G without the walk. Stress responsiveness was assessed using salivary cortisol collected at 10-min intervals on seven occasions. Results: Hierarchical multiple regression revealed that average walking HR accounted for 9% of the variance in cortisol secretion ( P = .016), where a higher HR was associated with higher cortisol secretion. Between-subjects ANCOVA revealed that the walking group had a significantly lower cortisol secretion than the non-walking group ( P = .009). Conclusions: These findings indicate that fitter individuals have reduced cortisol secretion during psychosocial stress. They also indicate that prior PA can reduce cortisol concentrations during psychosocial stress and are suggestive of a role of PA in reducing the impact of stress on health.