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

Hormonal Balance in the Mobilization-Fatigue-Recovery Cycle: Dynamics of the Physiological and Psychological Response to Pre-Competitive Stress

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?

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: 2000-meter maximal effort test on rowing ergometer

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.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 30

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Poland
  • Wielkopolskie
    • Poznań, Wielkopolskie, Poland, 61-871
      • Poznań University of Physical Education

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The Polish Youth Rowing Team

Description

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

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Intervention / Treatment

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.

Behavioral: 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.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes from baseline in cortisol level.	Concentration of cortisol [ng/ml]. Immunoenzymatic assay method using a diagnostic ELISA Kit	At rest (before the test), directly after the test, and after 1-hour and 24-hour recovery periods.
Changes from baseline in testosterone level.	Concentration of testosterone [ng/mL]. Immunoenzymatic assay method using a diagnostic ELISA Kit	At rest (before the test), directly after the test, and after 1-hour and 24-hour recovery periods.
Changes from baseline in serotonin level.	Concentration of serotonin [ng/mL]. Immunoenzymatic assay method using a diagnostic ELISA Kit	At rest (before the test), directly after the test, and after 1-hour and 24-hour recovery periods.
Changes from baseline in dopamine level.	Concentration of dopamine [ng/mL]. Immunoenzymatic assay method using a diagnostic ELISA Kit	At rest (before the test), directly after the test, and after 1-hour and 24-hour recovery periods.
Changes from baseline in anandamide level.	Concentration of anandamide [ng/mL]. Immunoenzymatic assay method using a diagnostic ELISA Kit	At rest (before the test), directly after the test, and after 1-hour and 24-hour recovery periods.
Changes from baseline in 2-arachidonoyl glycerol level.	Concentration of 2-arachidonoyl glycerol [ng/mL]. Immunoenzymatic assay method using a diagnostic ELISA Kit	At rest (before the test), directly after the test, and after 1-hour and 24-hour recovery periods.
Competitive Anxiety Profile Before Exercise Test Using SCAT Questionnaire	The Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT) measures trait anxiety levels related to competitive situations in athletes. The SCAT questionnaire provides a score ranging from 10 to 30 points. Higher scores indicate higher levels of competitive anxiety, which is considered a worse outcome in terms of psychological readiness for competition. Lower scores suggest lower levels of trait anxiety and better psychological preparedness.	Before the 2000-meter exercise test (baseline, at rest)
Cognitive, Somatic Anxiety, and Confidence Before and After Exercise Using CSAI-2R Questionnaire	The Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 Revised (CSAI-2R) measures the intensity of cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and self-confidence in athletes before and after competitive performance. Each subscale of the CSAI-2R provides a score ranging from 9 to 36 points. For Cognitive Anxiety and Somatic Anxiety, higher scores indicate higher levels of anxiety, which are considered a worse outcome regarding psychological readiness. For Self-Confidence, higher scores indicate greater confidence, which is considered a better outcome.	Before the 2000-meter exercise test (baseline, at rest)
Coping Strategies for Sport Stress Using CICS Questionnaire	The Coping Inventory for Competitive Sport (CICS) assesses athletes' coping strategies in response to competition-related stress. It measures task-oriented, distraction-oriented, and disengagement-oriented coping styles. Each subscale of the CICS (Task-Oriented Coping, Distraction-Oriented Coping, and Disengagement-Oriented Coping) provides a score ranging from 5 to 25 points. For Task-Oriented Coping, higher scores indicate more significant use of effective, adaptive coping strategies, which is considered a better outcome. For Distraction-Oriented Coping and Disengagement-Oriented Coping, higher scores indicate more significant use of less effective or maladaptive coping strategies, which is considered a worse outcome.	Before the 2000-meter exercise test (baseline, at rest)
Changes from baseline in beta-endorphin level.	Concentration of beta-endorphin [ng/mL]. Immunoenzymatic assay method using a diagnostic ELISA Kit	At rest (before the test), directly after the test, and after 1-hour and 24-hour recovery periods.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Poznan University of Physical Education
• Investigators: Study Director: Anna Skarpańska-Stejborn, Professor, Poznań University of Physical Education, Faculty of Sport Sciences in Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 20, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 25, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): December 2, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 1, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 1, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): April 8, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): July 8, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 2, 2025
• Last Verified: October 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Anxiety; Recovery; Fatigue; Athletes
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Fatigue
• Other Study ID Numbers: Rowers 2023a

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No