Salivary testosterone concentration, anxiety, perceived performance and ratings of perceived exertion in basketball players during semi-final and final matches

• Published in: Physiology & behavior 2019-01, Vol.198, p.102-107
• Main Authors: de Arruda, Ademir Felipe Schultz, Aoki, Marcelo Saldanha, Drago, Gustavo, Moreira, Alexandre
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Anxiety - physiopathology; Anxiety - psychology; Athletes - psychology; Athletic Performance; Basketball; Behavior; Competitive Behavior - physiology; Endocrinology; Hierarchy, Social; Humans; Male; Physical Exertion - physiology; Saliva; Saliva - chemistry; Social hierarchy; Social status; Team-sports; Testosterone - analysis
• ISSN: 0031-9384; 1873-507X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.10.008

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of playing semi-final (SFM) and final (FM) matches on salivary testosterone (T) concentration, anxiety, session rating of perceived exertion (session-RPE) and perceived performance (PP) in elite male youth basketball players. Data from 25 players who participated ≥15 min in 6 assessed matches consisting of SFM (n = 3; 1 match for each age-category [U15, U16, and U17]), and FM (n = 3; 1 match for each age-category) were retained for analysis. Saliva sampling was conducted before and after the matches. Video recordings of the matches were conducted to assess the players match involvement (technical and tactical actions). Anxiety (CSAI-2) was assessed before pre-match saliva sampling, and session-RPE and PP were assessed post-matches. A significant increase in T from pre-to-post matches (SFM and FM; F = 24.40, p  .05). However, a higher anxiety, session-RPE and PP were observed for FM (p