Steroid hormones and psychological responses to soccer matches: Insights from a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the perturbations in hormonal and psychological homeostasis in response to soccer match-play. These perturbations were explored according to match outcome (i.e., win versus loss), gender, type of contest (i.e., competitive versus non-co...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Maamer Slimani, Julien S Baker, Foued Cheour, Lee Taylor, Nicola Luigi Bragazzi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2017-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0186100
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849682965555052544
author Maamer Slimani
Julien S Baker
Foued Cheour
Lee Taylor
Nicola Luigi Bragazzi
author_facet Maamer Slimani
Julien S Baker
Foued Cheour
Lee Taylor
Nicola Luigi Bragazzi
author_sort Maamer Slimani
collection DOAJ
description The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the perturbations in hormonal and psychological homeostasis in response to soccer match-play. These perturbations were explored according to match outcome (i.e., win versus loss), gender, type of contest (i.e., competitive versus non-competitive fixtures) and competitive level (i.e., novice versus high-level). The review was conducted according to the Population/Intervention or Exposure/Comparison/Outcome(s) (PICO) criteria and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Match outcome, type of contest and competitive levels were moderator variables in the examined steroid hormones responses to a soccer match-play. Different testosterone responses were seen between match winners (increase) and losers (decrease) when compared to pre-game or baseline values (p <0.05), whilst no changes could be detected for cortisol relative to match outcome in female soccer players. Males (Δ% = 6.26; ES = 0.28) demonstrated a marginally lower increase in testosterone levels when compared to females (Δ% = 49.16; ES = 1.00), though not statistically significant. Females (Δ% = 162.7; ES = 0.98) did not demonstrate elevated cortisol match response compared to males (Δ% = 34.60; ES = 1.20). Male novice soccer match-play increased cortisol levels compared to high-level soccer match-play (Q = 18.08, p<0.001). Competitive soccer matches increased cortisol levels compared to non-competitive fixtures (i.e., collegiate tournament). Additionally, competitive levels moderate the relationship between a soccer match and testosterone levels (p <0.001), regardless of gender differences. From the presented systematic review and meta-analysis it appears (1) cortisol changes are associated with cognitive anxiety in starter female soccer players, while (2) testosterone changes are associated with changes in mood state in females and social connectedness in male soccer players. This apparent psycho-physiological relationship may proffer the opportunity for targeted intervention(s) by practitioners to favorably influence performance and/or recovery agendas. Further mechanistic and/or applied evidence is required in this regard in addition to further data sets from females.
format Article
id doaj-art-bba368fd00a84c4b9f6fca3e5920e190
institution DOAJ
issn 1932-6203
language English
publishDate 2017-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-bba368fd00a84c4b9f6fca3e5920e1902025-08-20T03:24:02ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032017-01-011210e018610010.1371/journal.pone.0186100Steroid hormones and psychological responses to soccer matches: Insights from a systematic review and meta-analysis.Maamer SlimaniJulien S BakerFoued CheourLee TaylorNicola Luigi BragazziThe present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the perturbations in hormonal and psychological homeostasis in response to soccer match-play. These perturbations were explored according to match outcome (i.e., win versus loss), gender, type of contest (i.e., competitive versus non-competitive fixtures) and competitive level (i.e., novice versus high-level). The review was conducted according to the Population/Intervention or Exposure/Comparison/Outcome(s) (PICO) criteria and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Match outcome, type of contest and competitive levels were moderator variables in the examined steroid hormones responses to a soccer match-play. Different testosterone responses were seen between match winners (increase) and losers (decrease) when compared to pre-game or baseline values (p <0.05), whilst no changes could be detected for cortisol relative to match outcome in female soccer players. Males (Δ% = 6.26; ES = 0.28) demonstrated a marginally lower increase in testosterone levels when compared to females (Δ% = 49.16; ES = 1.00), though not statistically significant. Females (Δ% = 162.7; ES = 0.98) did not demonstrate elevated cortisol match response compared to males (Δ% = 34.60; ES = 1.20). Male novice soccer match-play increased cortisol levels compared to high-level soccer match-play (Q = 18.08, p<0.001). Competitive soccer matches increased cortisol levels compared to non-competitive fixtures (i.e., collegiate tournament). Additionally, competitive levels moderate the relationship between a soccer match and testosterone levels (p <0.001), regardless of gender differences. From the presented systematic review and meta-analysis it appears (1) cortisol changes are associated with cognitive anxiety in starter female soccer players, while (2) testosterone changes are associated with changes in mood state in females and social connectedness in male soccer players. This apparent psycho-physiological relationship may proffer the opportunity for targeted intervention(s) by practitioners to favorably influence performance and/or recovery agendas. Further mechanistic and/or applied evidence is required in this regard in addition to further data sets from females.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0186100
spellingShingle Maamer Slimani
Julien S Baker
Foued Cheour
Lee Taylor
Nicola Luigi Bragazzi
Steroid hormones and psychological responses to soccer matches: Insights from a systematic review and meta-analysis.
PLoS ONE
title Steroid hormones and psychological responses to soccer matches: Insights from a systematic review and meta-analysis.
title_full Steroid hormones and psychological responses to soccer matches: Insights from a systematic review and meta-analysis.
title_fullStr Steroid hormones and psychological responses to soccer matches: Insights from a systematic review and meta-analysis.
title_full_unstemmed Steroid hormones and psychological responses to soccer matches: Insights from a systematic review and meta-analysis.
title_short Steroid hormones and psychological responses to soccer matches: Insights from a systematic review and meta-analysis.
title_sort steroid hormones and psychological responses to soccer matches insights from a systematic review and meta analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0186100
work_keys_str_mv AT maamerslimani steroidhormonesandpsychologicalresponsestosoccermatchesinsightsfromasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT juliensbaker steroidhormonesandpsychologicalresponsestosoccermatchesinsightsfromasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT fouedcheour steroidhormonesandpsychologicalresponsestosoccermatchesinsightsfromasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT leetaylor steroidhormonesandpsychologicalresponsestosoccermatchesinsightsfromasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT nicolaluigibragazzi steroidhormonesandpsychologicalresponsestosoccermatchesinsightsfromasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis