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Cited by 349Stress Responses and CortisolPhysical Activity and HealthHeart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control

Trained men show lower cortisol, heart rate and psychological responses to psychosocial stress compared with untrained men

Rimmele, Ulrike, Zellweger, Bea Costa, Marti, Bernard, Seiler, Roland, Mohiyeddini, Changiz, Ehlert, Ulrike, Heinrichs, Markus·2007·Psychoneuroendocrinology
DOI 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2007.04.005
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Abstract

Physical activity has proven benefits for physical and psychological well-being and is associated with reduced responsiveness to physical stress. However, it is not clear to what extent physical activity also modulates the responsiveness to psychosocial stress. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the reduced responsiveness to physical stressors that has been observed in trained men can be generalized to the modulation of physiological and psychological responses to a psychosocial stressor. Twenty-two trained men (elite sportsmen) and 22 healthy untrained men were exposed to a standardized psychosocial laboratory stressor (Trier Social Stress Test). Adrenocortical (salivary free cortisol levels), autonomic (heart rate), and psychological responses (mood, calmness, anxiety) were repeatedly measured before and after stress exposure. In response to the stressor, cortisol levels and heart rate were significantly increased in both groups, without any baseline differences between groups. However, trained men exhibited significantly lower cortisol and heart rate responses to the stressor compared with untrained men. In addition, trained men showed significantly higher calmness and better mood, and a trend toward lower state anxiety during the stress protocol. On the whole, elite sportsmen showed reduced reactivity to the psychosocial stressor, characterized by lower adrenocortical, autonomic, and psychological stress responses. These results suggest that physical activity may provide a protective effect against stress-related disorders.

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  • The majority of studies with humans testing the cross-stressor adaptation hypothesis with exercise and psychological stressors have been quasi-experimental, comparing salivary cortisol released in response to a psychosocial stressor task in adults pre-selected for their fitness or activity levels.

    “The majority of studies with humans testing this cross-stressor adaptation hypothesis with exercise and psychological stressors have been quasi-experimental, comparing sCort released in response to a psychosocial stressor task in adults pre-selected for their fitness or activity levels (Puterman et al., 2012;Rimmele et al., 2007Rimmele et al., , 2009;;Traustadóttir et al., 2005;Wunsch et al., 2019”

    From The effects of exercise intensity on the cortisol response to a subsequent acute psychosocial stressor. (2021) · cites this paper as Rimmele et al., 2007

  • Previous work primarily used quasiexperimental designs focusing on active/fit compared to inactive/unfit groups, in which participants were asked to participate in a psychosocial stress task.

    “Previous work primarily used quasiexperimental designs focusing on active/fit compared to inactive/unfit groups (Puterman et al., 2012;Rimmele et al., 2007Rimmele et al., , 2009;;Traustadóttir et al., 2005), in which participants were asked to participate in a psychosocial stress task.”

    From The effects of exercise intensity on the cortisol response to a subsequent acute psychosocial stressor. (2021) · cites this paper as Rimmele et al., 2007

  • Prior studies that included women suggest that women who engage in moderate or high levels of physical activity in their everyday lives, compared to those low in activity, have reduced physiological (cortisol, heart rate) responses to a lab-induced psychosocial stressor, similar to previous research in men.

    “Although future work is needed to determine the extent to which these acute effects generalize to women, prior studies that included women in their samples suggest that women who engage in moderate or high levels of physical activity in their everyday lives, compared to those low in activity, have reduced physiological (i.e.cortisol, heart rate) responses to a lab-induced psychosocial stressor (Kl”

    From The effects of exercise intensity on the cortisol response to a subsequent acute psychosocial stressor. (2021) · cites this paper as Rimmele et al., 2007

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Authors
Rimmele, U., Zellweger, B. C., Marti, B., Seiler, R., Mohiyeddini, C., Ehlert, U., & Heinrichs, M.
Affiliations
  • University of Zurich (CH)
  • Federal Office of Sport (CH)
  • University of Bern (CH)
  • University of Roehampton (GB)
Corresponding author
Heinrichs, Markus
ORCID
Venue
Psychoneuroendocrinology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2007-07
Volume
32
Issue
6
Pages
627-635
ISSN
0306-4530 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.psyneuen.2007.04.005
OpenAlex
W2122219818
Cited by
349
References
7
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 12
FWCI
2.99
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Psychoneuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Bank (Australian Catholic University) (submittedVersion)
  • ARBOR - Bern University of Applied Sciences Repository (submittedVersion)
  • Bern Open Repository and Information System (University of Bern) (submittedVersion)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
Keywords
physical activity, elite athletes, psychosocial stress, Trier Social Stress Test, salivary cortisol, heart rate, stress reactivity, mood, tranquility, state anxiety, autonomic nervous system, adrenocortical response, stress resilience
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Affect, Anxiety, Heart Rate, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Male, Motor Activity, Physical Fitness, Saliva, Stress, Psychological, Self Efficacy

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