Physical fitness and prior physical activity are both associated with less cortisol secretion during psychosocial stress
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Evidence linking fitness and decreased psychosocial stress comes from studies of athletes and typically relies upon self-report measures. Furthermore, there is little evidence regarding the impact of physical activity (PA) prior to a stressor. The aims of this study were to determine whether fitness and prior PA influence cortisol concentrations during psychosocial stress. METHODS: Seventy-five non-athletic participants took part in a submaximal walk prior to the Trier Social Stress Test for Groups (TSST-G). During the walk, fitness was assessed using heart rate (HR). A further 89 participants took part in the TSST-G without the walk. Stress responsiveness was assessed using salivary cortisol collected at 10-min intervals on seven occasions. RESULTS: Hierarchical multiple regression revealed that average walking HR accounted for 9% of the variance in cortisol secretion (P = .016), where a higher HR was associated with higher cortisol secretion. Between-subjects ANCOVA revealed that the walking group had a significantly lower cortisol secretion than the non-walking group (P = .009). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that fitter individuals have reduced cortisol secretion during psychosocial stress. They also indicate that prior PA can reduce cortisol concentrations during psychosocial stress and are suggestive of a role of PA in reducing the impact of stress on health.
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When prior studies have implemented an exercise protocol prior to a stressor, they have primarily used a binary model with an exercising and non-exercising group.
“When prior studies have implemented an exercise protocol prior to a stressor, they have primarily used a binary model with an exercising and non-exercising group (Wood et al., 2018;Zschucke et al., 2015).”
From The effects of exercise intensity on the cortisol response to a subsequent acute psychosocial stressor. (2021) · cites this paper as Wood et al., 2018
Three studies demonstrate that various modalities of acute exercise can reduce the HPA-axis salivary cortisol response to various psychosocial stressor tasks.
“Three studies demonstrate that various modalities of acute exercise (e.g.outdoor walking, ergometer bicycling) can reduce the HPA-axis sCort response to various psychosocial stressor tasks (Wood et al., 2018;Wunsch et al., 2019;Zschucke et al., 2015).”
From The effects of exercise intensity on the cortisol response to a subsequent acute psychosocial stressor. (2021) · cites this paper as Wood et al., 2018
In Wood et al. (2018), participants randomized to walk approximately 3 km outside for approximately 30 min had reduced cortisol output to a standardized group-based speaking and math task that followed the walk, compared to those randomized to sit in a room for 30 min.
“In a study by Wood et al. (2018), participants randomized to walk ~3 km outside (with 2/3 in an urban park) for approximately 30 min had reduced cortisol output to a standardized group-based speaking and math task that followed the walk, compared to those who were randomized to sit in a room for 30 min.”
From The effects of exercise intensity on the cortisol response to a subsequent acute psychosocial stressor. (2021) · cites this paper as Wood et al., 2018
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Caplin, A., Chen, F. S., Beauchamp, M. R., & Puterman, E. (2021) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105336 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
“outdoor walking, ergometer bicycling) can reduce the HPA-axis sCort response to various psychosocial stressor tasks (Wood et al., 2018; Wunsch et al., 2019; Zschucke et al., 2015).”
InfluentialHan, X., Li, H., Xiao, C., Wang, W., Gao, K., Yan, S., & Niu, L. (2025) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-025-07791-z · Cited by 34 · see citing works
- Authors
- Wood, C. J., Clow, A., Hucklebridge, F., Law, R., & Smyth, N.
- Affiliations
- University of Westminster (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Wood, Carly J.
- Venue
- Anxiety, Stress, & Coping
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2017-10-16
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 135-145
- ISSN
- 1061-5806 (ISSN-L)
- 1477-2205
- OpenAlex
- W2763758654
- Cited by
- 75
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 4
- FWCI
- 3.18
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Anxiety Stress & Coping (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- WestminsterResearch (University of Westminster) (acceptedVersion)
- Open Access at Essex (University of Essex) (acceptedVersion)
- WestminsterResearch (University of Westminster) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Bial Foundation (72/12)
- University of Westminster
- 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 fitness, cortisol secretion, psychosocial stress, salivary cortisol, heart rate, Trier Social Stress Test for Groups, stress responsiveness, stress buffering, non-athletes
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Female, Heart Rate, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Male, Physical Fitness, Surveys and Questionnaires, Saliva, Stress, Psychological, Exercise, Walking, Young Adult
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