title: Salivary alpha-amylase response to competition: relation to gender, previous experience, and attitudes.
abstract: This study examined individual differences in salivary alpha-amylase response to competition in relation to gender, previous experience, behavior, attitudes, and performance. Participants were 42 (21 women) members of a collegiate crew team. Saliva samples were collected before, 20- and 40-min post-ergometer competition and at the same times on a non-competition day for comparison. Samples were assayed for salivary biomarkers of sympathetic nervous system (alpha-amylase) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (cortisol) activity. Behavioral assessments included self-reports of dominance, competitiveness, bonding with teammates, competition-related strategic thinking, and performance. On average, salivary alpha-amylase increased 156% in response to the ergometer competition. By comparison, cortisol increased 87% across the same time period. Salivary alpha-amylase was higher across the competition for varsity than for novice athletes, and was positively associated with performance and interest in team-bonding. Regression analyses revealed that alpha-amylase reactivity explained individual differences in dominance and team bonding above and beyond that associated with cortisol reactivity, and that joint inactivation in alpha-amylase and cortisol reactivity to competition (low-low) was associated with high perceived dominance. The findings are among the first to integrate salivary alpha-amylase into the study of competition and reveal that intra-individual change in alpha-amylase may be influenced by a confluence of factors that include contextual, behavioral, and psychological factors and processes.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, 315 Health and Human Development East, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Katie T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Kivlighan
authors.forename: Douglas A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Granger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001290:Attitude; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D011584:Psychology; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012380:Role; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012930:Social Dominance; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000516:alpha-Amylases