A Study on Cortisol, DHEA, IgA and Stress Perception during Competition of Table Tennis Players in the Middle and High School

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate changes of stress-related hormones, immune response and stress perception level during competition among middle and high school elite table tennis players. The study subjects were 10 female players and 10 male players. Stress-related hormone and immune response measured at rest, before and after game by saliva collected from them. Stress perception level used visual analogue scale (VAS). The results of this study were as follows: Saliva cortisol according to gender differences showed significant interaction effects of between group×time (p=.039). Also, school levels didn’t show significant interaction effects while in the main effects verification was significant differences among group (p=.044) and time (p=.000). Saliva dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) according to gender differences showed significant differences in time (p=.015) which is, male players were significantly increases between measurement time but female players were significantly decreases at after game. School levels didn’t show significant interaction effects while in the main effects verification was significant differences among group (p=.007) and time (p=.016). Saliva IgA according to gender differences showed no significant interaction effects, in the main effects verification was significant differences between time (p=.040). In the school levels was no significant changes in the interaction effects and main effects. Stress perception according to gender differences was no significant interaction effects, but in the main effects verification was significant differences among group (p=.040) and time (p=.000). Stress perception according to school levels showed significant the interaction effects of between group×Time (p=.005). In the correlation between cortisol, DHEA and VAS, there showed significant difference. Therefore, the present study will hopefully provide basic data for the development of programs to minimize the stress of table tennis players. And further studies are needed to understand its topic.