Effect of aerobic fitness on the physiological stress response in women.
Stress reactivity was assessed in aerobically fit (n = 14) and unfit (n = 8) females during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Participants completed the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and provided a urine sample for catecholamine analysis before and after mental stress testing, Stroop Color-Word Test. Blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and skin conductance were measured during mental stress testing. Fit and unfit participants differed significantly in baseline heart rate but not in stress reactivity or in state or trait anxiety. These data suggest that aerobic fitness does not attenuate the stress response in women prior to menopause.
David Grant Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, CA, USA.
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Summers
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Lustyk
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Heitkemper
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Jarrett
D000328:Adult; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000652:urine; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000652:urine; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D017697:Premenopause / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000652:urine; D016387:Women's Health
D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine