Feeling the Stress: Salivary Cortisol Responses of Softball Umpires during National Championships
Article
Article Title | Feeling the Stress: Salivary Cortisol Responses of Softball Umpires during National Championships |
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ERA Journal ID | 211379 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Houison, Ronald J, Lamont-Mills, Andrea, Kotiw, Michael and Terry, Peter C. |
Journal Title | Sports |
Journal Citation | 12 (5) |
Article Number | 128 |
Number of Pages | 14 |
Year | 2024 |
Publisher | MDPI AG |
Place of Publication | Switzerland |
ISSN | 2075-4663 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12050128 |
Web Address (URL) | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/12/5/128 |
Abstract | Stress research in sports tends to focus on athletes, with sports officials typically being overlooked. In the current study, baseline, pre-game, and post-game cortisol levels among a sample of softball umpires were measured to assess the pattern of stress responses and determine if umpire performance (pass/fail) and position on the diamond (plate/field) could be predicted from cortisol levels. Nine male and four female participants aged 25–68 years (N = 13, M = 47.06 ± 15.65 years) each provided saliva samples on multiple occasions prior to and after officiating games at two Australian National Softball Championships. Data from 65 games were analysed. Performance was assessed using Softball Australia’s official umpire assessment tool. Cortisol levels increased significantly from baseline to pre-game (p < 0.001, d = −0.69) and declined significantly from pre-game to post-game (p < 0.001, d = 0.47). Umpiring performances were correctly classified as pass or fail from baseline and pre-game cortisol levels in 61.5% of cases and umpire position on the diamond from pre-game cortisol in 63.1% of cases. Findings suggest that stress management strategies should be recommended to softball umpires for performance enhancement and to safeguard their mental health. |
Keywords | stress; anxiety; softball; sports officials; umpires; biochemistry; hormone; cortisol |
Article Publishing Charge (APC) Funding | Researcher |
Contains Sensitive Content | Does not contain sensitive content |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 420799. Sports science and exercise not elsewhere classified |
529999. Other psychology not elsewhere classified | |
Byline Affiliations | Centre for Health Research |
Academic Affairs Administration | |
School of Health and Medical Sciences | |
School of Psychology and Wellbeing |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/z79qq/feeling-the-stress-salivary-cortisol-responses-of-softball-umpires-during-national-championships
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