CHANGES IN PSY CHOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL INDICES OF STRESS ACROSS A COMPETITIVE SEASON IN AGE-GROUP SWIMMERS

Abstract

502 It is well recognized that stress plays an important role in influencing athletic performance, health and injuries. Previous research indicates that high levels of perceived stress are associated with declines in performance and general health and an increase in injury occurrence. The factors which contribute to this relationship however, have received little attention. It was therefore the purpose of this study to examine changes in psychological and biochemical markers of stress over the course of a competitive season. Thirty age group swimmers (male=18; female=12; 13-18 yrs.) participated. Psychological stress was assessed through the Daily Analysis of Life Demands in Athletes (DALDA); a self-report, swimming specific measure of life stressors and symptoms of stress. The biochemical markers of stress included both salivary IgA and cortisol levels. These indices of stress were assessed monthly over a five month period of a competitive season which included age-group nationals, junior nationals and a switch between long and short course swimming events. ANOVA and Fisher post-hoc analyses indicated that over the five month period there was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in salivary IgA levels (ug/ml) (T1=276.1±6.5); T5=227.1±6.2) and a significant increase in salivary cortisol levels (ug/dL) (T1=10.9±0.3; T5=13.9±0.4). Moreover, while there was no significant difference across the season in the athletes' reports of stressors (T1=18.1±0.48; T5=18.4±0.73), there was a significant increase in reported symptoms of stress (T1=48.1±1.2; T5=56.7±1.8). The results suggest that the changes in the biochemical indices of stress may be associated with increased reports of symptoms of stress and a decline in general health.