Skip to main content
Erschienen in: Sports Medicine 11/2018

29.08.2018 | Systematic Review

Influence of Regular Physical Activity and Fitness on Stress Reactivity as Measured with the Trier Social Stress Test Protocol: A Systematic Review

verfasst von: Manuel Mücke, Sebastian Ludyga, Flora Colledge, Markus Gerber

Erschienen in: Sports Medicine | Ausgabe 11/2018

Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhalten

Abstract

Background

Psychosocial stress is associated with multiple health complaints. Research to date suggests that regular physical activity (PA) and higher cardiorespiratory fitness may reduce stress reactivity and therefore contribute to a reduction of stress-related risk factors. While previous reviews have not differentiated between stressors, we focus on psychosocial stress elicited with the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST).

Objective

Our objective was to examine the effect of regular PA and cardiorespiratory fitness on stress reactivity, with a particular focus on the TSST. The TSST is the laboratory task most widely used to induce socio-evaluative stress and elicits stronger stress reactions than most other cognitive stressor tasks.

Methods

A systematic search within various databases was performed in January 2018. The following outcomes were considered: cortisol, heart rate, psychological stress reactivity, and potential moderators (age, sex, exercise intensity, assessment mode, and psychological constructs).

Results

In total, 14 eligible studies were identified. Cortisol and heart rate reactivity were attenuated by higher PA or better fitness in seven of twelve studies and four of nine studies, respectively. Two of four studies reported smaller increases in anxiety and smaller decreases in calmness in physically active/fitter participants. Three of four studies found that higher PA/fitness was associated with more favorable mood in response to the TSST.

Conclusion

About half of the studies suggested that higher PA/fitness levels were associated with an attenuated response to psychosocial stress. Currently, most evidence is based on cross-sectional analyses. Therefore, a great need for further studies with longitudinal or experimental designs exists.
Literatur
4.
Zurück zum Zitat Middlebrooks JS, Audage NC. The effects of childhood stress on health across the lifespan. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control; 2008. Middlebrooks JS, Audage NC. The effects of childhood stress on health across the lifespan. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control; 2008.
6.
Zurück zum Zitat Kivimäki M, Virtanen M, Elovainio M, Kouvonen A, Väänänen A, Vahtera J. Work stress in the etiology of coronary heart disease: a meta-analysis. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2006;32:431–42.CrossRefPubMed Kivimäki M, Virtanen M, Elovainio M, Kouvonen A, Väänänen A, Vahtera J. Work stress in the etiology of coronary heart disease: a meta-analysis. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2006;32:431–42.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Zurück zum Zitat Ludyga S. Sportaktivität, Stress und das Gehirn. In: Fuchs R, Gerber M, editors. Stressregulation und sport. Heidelberg: Springer; 2017. p. 275–91. Ludyga S. Sportaktivität, Stress und das Gehirn. In: Fuchs R, Gerber M, editors. Stressregulation und sport. Heidelberg: Springer; 2017. p. 275–91.
20.
Zurück zum Zitat Sothmann MS. The cross-stressor adaptation hypothesis and exercise training. In: Acevedo EO, Ekkekakis P, editors. Psychobiology of physical activity. Champaign: Human Kinetics; 2006. Sothmann MS. The cross-stressor adaptation hypothesis and exercise training. In: Acevedo EO, Ekkekakis P, editors. Psychobiology of physical activity. Champaign: Human Kinetics; 2006.
21.
Zurück zum Zitat Kjaer M. Regulation of hormonal and metabolic responses during exercise in humans. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 1992;20:161–84.PubMed Kjaer M. Regulation of hormonal and metabolic responses during exercise in humans. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 1992;20:161–84.PubMed
23.
Zurück zum Zitat Gerber M. Physiologische Wirkmechanismen des Sports unter Stress. In: Fuchs R, Gerber M, editors. Stressregulation und Sport. Heidelberg: Springer; 2017. Gerber M. Physiologische Wirkmechanismen des Sports unter Stress. In: Fuchs R, Gerber M, editors. Stressregulation und Sport. Heidelberg: Springer; 2017.
26.
36.
Zurück zum Zitat Boutcher SH, Hamer M. Psychobiological reactivity, physical activity and cardiovascular health. In: Acevedo EO, Ekkekakis P, editors. Psychobiology of physical activity. Champaign: Human Kinetics; 2006. p. 161–76. Boutcher SH, Hamer M. Psychobiological reactivity, physical activity and cardiovascular health. In: Acevedo EO, Ekkekakis P, editors. Psychobiology of physical activity. Champaign: Human Kinetics; 2006. p. 161–76.
41.
Zurück zum Zitat Kudielka BM, Hellhammer DH, Kirschbaum C. Ten years of research with the trier social stress test revisited. In: Harmon-Jones E, Winkielman P, editors. Social neuroscience. New York: The Guilford Press; 2007. p. 56–83. Kudielka BM, Hellhammer DH, Kirschbaum C. Ten years of research with the trier social stress test revisited. In: Harmon-Jones E, Winkielman P, editors. Social neuroscience. New York: The Guilford Press; 2007. p. 56–83.
48.
Zurück zum Zitat Harrison LK, Denning S, Easton HL, Hall JC, Burns VE, Ring C, Carroll D. The effects of competition and competitiveness on cardiovascular activity. Psychophysiology. 2001;38:601–6.CrossRefPubMed Harrison LK, Denning S, Easton HL, Hall JC, Burns VE, Ring C, Carroll D. The effects of competition and competitiveness on cardiovascular activity. Psychophysiology. 2001;38:601–6.CrossRefPubMed
49.
Zurück zum Zitat Thayer JF, Lane RD. A model of neurovisceral integration in emotion regulation and dysregulation. J Affect Disord. 2000;61:201–16.CrossRefPubMed Thayer JF, Lane RD. A model of neurovisceral integration in emotion regulation and dysregulation. J Affect Disord. 2000;61:201–16.CrossRefPubMed
56.
Zurück zum Zitat Sommer M, Braumann M, Althoff T, Backhaus J, Kordon A, Junghanns K, et al. Psychological and neuroendocrine responses to social stress and to the administration of the alpha-2-receptor antagonist, yohimbine, in highly trained endurance athletes in comparison to untrained healthy controls. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2011;44:129–34. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0031-1277166.CrossRefPubMed Sommer M, Braumann M, Althoff T, Backhaus J, Kordon A, Junghanns K, et al. Psychological and neuroendocrine responses to social stress and to the administration of the alpha-2-receptor antagonist, yohimbine, in highly trained endurance athletes in comparison to untrained healthy controls. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2011;44:129–34. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1055/​s-0031-1277166.CrossRefPubMed
59.
Zurück zum Zitat Martikainen S, Pesonen A-K, Lahti J, Heinonen K, Feldt K, Pyhälä R, et al. Higher levels of physical activity are associated with lower hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical axis reactivity to psychosocial stress in children. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013;98:E619–27. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2012-3745.CrossRefPubMed Martikainen S, Pesonen A-K, Lahti J, Heinonen K, Feldt K, Pyhälä R, et al. Higher levels of physical activity are associated with lower hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical axis reactivity to psychosocial stress in children. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013;98:E619–27. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1210/​jc.​2012-3745.CrossRefPubMed
71.
Zurück zum Zitat Gerber M. Sportliche Aktivität und Stressreaktivität: ein Review [Exercise and stress reactivity: a review]. Dt Zs Sportmed. 2008;59:168–74. Gerber M. Sportliche Aktivität und Stressreaktivität: ein Review [Exercise and stress reactivity: a review]. Dt Zs Sportmed. 2008;59:168–74.
74.
Zurück zum Zitat de Geus EJC, Stubbe JH. Aerobic exercise and stress reduction. In: Fink G, editor. Encyclopedia of stress. 2nd ed. New York: Academic Press; 2007. p. 73–8.CrossRef de Geus EJC, Stubbe JH. Aerobic exercise and stress reduction. In: Fink G, editor. Encyclopedia of stress. 2nd ed. New York: Academic Press; 2007. p. 73–8.CrossRef
77.
Zurück zum Zitat Kirschbaum C, Kudielka BM, Gaab J, Schommer NC, Hellhammer DH. Impact of gender, menstrual cycle phase, and oral contraceptives on the activity of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis. Psychosom Med. 1999;61:154–62.CrossRefPubMed Kirschbaum C, Kudielka BM, Gaab J, Schommer NC, Hellhammer DH. Impact of gender, menstrual cycle phase, and oral contraceptives on the activity of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis. Psychosom Med. 1999;61:154–62.CrossRefPubMed
82.
Zurück zum Zitat Borenstein M, Hedges LV, Higgins JPT, Rothstein HR. Introduction to meta-analysis. Chichester: Wiley; 2009.CrossRef Borenstein M, Hedges LV, Higgins JPT, Rothstein HR. Introduction to meta-analysis. Chichester: Wiley; 2009.CrossRef
83.
Zurück zum Zitat Boutcher SH. Physical activity and stress reactivity. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2017.CrossRef Boutcher SH. Physical activity and stress reactivity. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2017.CrossRef
Metadaten
Titel
Influence of Regular Physical Activity and Fitness on Stress Reactivity as Measured with the Trier Social Stress Test Protocol: A Systematic Review
verfasst von
Manuel Mücke
Sebastian Ludyga
Flora Colledge
Markus Gerber
Publikationsdatum
29.08.2018
Verlag
Springer International Publishing
Erschienen in
Sports Medicine / Ausgabe 11/2018
Print ISSN: 0112-1642
Elektronische ISSN: 1179-2035
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-0979-0

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 11/2018

Sports Medicine 11/2018 Zur Ausgabe

Arthropedia

Grundlagenwissen der Arthroskopie und Gelenkchirurgie. Erweitert durch Fallbeispiele, Videos und Abbildungen. 
» Jetzt entdecken

Update Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie

Bestellen Sie unseren Fach-Newsletter und bleiben Sie gut informiert.