Mapping juvenile children's salivary aldosterone and cortisone responses during athletic and non-athletic competition (Abstract)

Aldosterone and cortisone are two understudied adrenal biomarkers associated with the regulation of physical and psychological stress. However, aldosterone and cortisone responses in juvenile children engaged in competition have not been described. We examined acute reactive responses of aldosterone and cortisone among Hong Kongese children, aged 8-11 years, during (1) a soccer match against unknown competitors (N = 84, high physical and high psychological stress condition), (2) soccer scrimmage against teammates (N = 81, high physical and low psychological stress condition), (3) a table tennis competition (N = 22, low physical and low psychological stress condition), and (4) a mixed-sex, team, math competition (N = 45, non-physical, high psychological stress condition). We hypothesized that aldosterone and cortisone levels would signiܪcantly vary with respect to the type of competition. As predicted, aldosterone levels signiܪcantly increased in boys during the soccer match and soccer scrimmage. Cortisone approached a signiܪcant increase for the soccer match (p = 0.055) and signiܪcantly decreased during the soccer scrimmage, likely indicating that competitors experienced high psychological stress during the soccer match and low psychological stress during the soccer scrimmage. Aldosterone and cortisone did not signiܪcantly change during table tennis contests. Counter to expectations, aldosterone and cortisone levels signiܪcantly decreased, rather than increased as predicted, consistent with a relaxed psychological state for math competitors. This ܪnding also provides support that aldosterone is not only sensitive to physical stress (e.g., regulation of blood pressure), but may also vary with respect to decreases in psychological stress.