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Int J Sports Med 2015; 36(01): 22-28
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1384544
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Psychophysiological Stress Responses during Training and Competition in Young Female Competitive Tennis Players

J. Fernandez-Fernandez
1   Sports Research Centre, Miguel Hernandez University, Elche, (Alicante) – Spain
,
D. A. Boullosa
2   Educação Física, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Águas Claras, Brazil
,
D. Sanz-Rivas
3   Coaches Education, Spanish Tennis Federation, Madrid, Spain
,
L. Abreu
4   Independent Researcher, Vigo, Spain
,
E. Filaire
5   STAPS, Orleans University, Orleans, France
,
A. Mendez-Villanueva
6   Sport Science Department, ASPIRE Academy for Sports Excellence, Doha, Qatar
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted after revision 23 May 2014

Publication Date:
24 September 2014 (online)

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Abstract

This study sought to compare the psychophysiological stress responses during an actual competitive game and a training session in a group of high-level young female tennis players. 12 players were monitored during one match and a training day (i. e., simulated match play). Measurements included salivary cortisol (SC), the revised Competitive Sport Anxiety Inventory, heart rate (HR), and rate of perceived exertion (RPE). Match day elicited higher SC levels for losers at all points in time when compared to winners. All players showed significantly lower SC levels during training when compared to the match at all points in time except during the evening for winners. Winners of match and training situations had significantly higher self-confidence and lower cognitive anxiety and somatic anxiety scores than losers. Heart rate and RPE were significantly higher for losers only during the match (158.9±8.3 vs. 168±6.7 bpm; 12.9±1.2 vs. 15±0.8, for losers and winners, respectively). There were moderate to strong correlations between SC, self-confidence and anxiety scores, and match workload (i. e., HR and RPE) only during the match day. These results indicate that the interplay between psychophysiological responses, match workload and outcome was evident only under real competitive situations.

Key words

psychophysiology - young athletes - tennis - stress - performance - sport physiology
 

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