Comparative analysis of the correlation between anxiety, salivary alpha amylase, cortisol levels, and athletes’ performance in archery competitions

Abstract

[Purpose]This study aimed to analyze the correlation between anxiety, salivary alpha amylase (sAA), and salivary cortisol (sC) changes in athletes showing a high or low level performance in an actual archery competition.[Methods]The participants were female university athletes who participated in the individual 50 m archery competition at the 21st Korean National Archery Team Trials, in July 2018. Based on their game record in the competition, 9 athletes were allocated to the high-performance group (HPG) and another 9 to the low-performance group (LPG). Anxiety caused by the competition was rated on a 1–10 point Likert scale at 30 min before competition (pre-30), 3 min before competition (pre-3), and 30 min after competition (post-30). This assessment method directly measured their cognitive anxiety. Saliva samples were collected in a tube by having the athletes chew on an absorber swab. For data analysis, two-way ANOVA with repeated measures was performed and Pearson’s correlation method was applied to correlate the variables.[Results]In the actual competition, significant difference between the game records of the HPG (mean score 339.5±4.1) and the LPG (mean score 323.3±3.4) was observed. Competitive anxiety showed a significant decrease in the HPG compared to the LPG. Due to the competition, sAA and sC were significantly decreased in the HPG compared to the LPG. Analysis of correlations between competition scores, anxiety, sAA, and sC, revealed that lower anxiety was associated with higher scores in the HPG. Pre-3 anxiety positively correlated with pre-3 sAA and sC. In the LPG, lower scores were associated with persistent anxiety until the completion of the competition. Positive correlations were observed for pre-3 anxiety with post-30 sC, pre-3 sAA with post-30 sAA and sC, and pre-3 cortisol with post-30 sAA.[Conclusion]Increased anxiety in the actual archery competition was associated with significant increase in sAA and sC. Elevated sAA and sC from prior-competition to post-competition stage were associated with reduced performance. Significant correlations between the measured variables (game records, anxiety, sAA, and sC) were associated with worse performance.

Effect of Exercise with Mental Stress on Cortisol and Alpha-Amylase Changes in Young Men

“…Studies also show that the activity of the SAA system results in the increased secretion of alpha-amylase by salivary glands (17)(18)(19)(20). The alpha-amylase assay in the saliva is a noninvasive method of measuring SAA axis activity (21).…”

Salivary hormone concentrations and technical-tactical performance indicators in beach volleyball: Preliminary evidence

“…Díaz et al ( 2013 ) reported a relationship between cortisol and mood of swimmers, feelings of tension, anxiety and hostility experienced in response to the stress caused by competition were observed. Moreover, the anxiety provoked by cortisol can reduce precision in motor tasks (Lim, 2018 ; Park et al, 2020 ), and if the precision was attenuated too in beach volleyball players, this is potentially problematic, as the hit action, which is large responsible for the victory (Medeiros et al, 2017 ), is highly dependent on this skill. However, we must exert caution interpreting these small differences (1.41 ± 0.93 vs. 1.80 ± 0.51 ng/ml) as meaningful, given the large fluctuations and variation observed in salivary cortisol (Hayes et al, 2014 , 2016 ), so whether these differences are biologically significant remains to be determined.…”

Association of salivary alpha-amylase with anxiety and stress in nursing professionals

“…The results of this study corroborate with other investigations, which also pointed to an association between SAA and psychological factors. In a survey conducted with university athletes in Korea, a positive correlation was identified between anxiety and the increase in SAA activity, demonstrating that there may be correlations between psychological anxiety and physiological anxiety factors, which can cause a decrease in athlete’s performance ( 36 ) . In an investigation carried out with workers from different occupational categories in Canada, the relationship between SAA activity and various psychosocial characteristics related to work was highlighted.…”