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Cortisol and affective responses to exercise

D L Rudolph1, E McAuley

  • 1Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of North Carolina-Greensboro, 27412, USA.

Journal of Sports Sciences
|April 8, 1998
PubMed
Summary
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Physically active individuals showed similar cortisol responses to exercise as inactive individuals. However, perceived exertion and negative feelings during exercise were higher in non-runners, linking effort and cortisol post-exercise.

Area of Science:

  • Exercise Physiology
  • Psychoneuroendocrinology
  • Sports Psychology

Background:

  • Physically active individuals exhibit blunted cortisol responses to acute exercise compared to sedentary individuals.
  • Elevated cortisol levels correlate with negative affective states, while lower levels are linked to positive psychological constructs like self-efficacy.
  • The interplay between physical activity history, adrenocortical activity, and affective responses to exercise remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare salivary cortisol, perceived exertion, and affective responses during acute exercise in trained runners versus untrained non-runners.
  • To investigate the relationship between activity history, cortisol levels, and psychological responses to a standardized exercise bout.

Main Methods:

  • Thirteen male cross-country runners and 13 non-runners completed a 30-minute treadmill run at 60% VO2 max.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Salivary cortisol and affective responses were measured pre-exercise, during exercise, and post-exercise.
  • Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded during the exercise session.

    • Main Results:

    • No significant differences in cortisol responses were observed between the runner and non-runner groups.
    • Cortisol levels increased during exercise and decreased post-exercise, showing a main effect for time.
    • Non-runners reported higher perceived exertion and more negative affect during exercise compared to runners.
    • Post-exercise cortisol levels were positively correlated with ratings of perceived exertion.
    • Affective state and cortisol responses were inversely related at 30 minutes post-exercise.

    Conclusions:

    • Activity history did not significantly alter cortisol responses to acute exercise in this study.
    • Non-runners experienced greater physiological and psychological stress during exercise, as indicated by higher RPE and negative affect.
    • These findings partially support the hypothesis that cortisol levels are associated with exercise-induced affective states, particularly concerning perceived effort and post-exercise mood.