This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Chatterton, R. T. Articles by Hudgens, G. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Chatterton, R. T., Jr. Articles by Hudgens, G. A.

Hormonal Responses to Psychological Stress in Men Preparing for Skydiving¹

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois 60611; and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, Maryland 21005

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Robert T. Chatterton, Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Medical School, 333 East Superior Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611.

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between the hormonal and psychological responses of young men about to engage in a potentially life-threatening event. Subjects were recruited to take their first skydiving jump. The scores on questionnaires designed to assess anxiety were not significantly increased at 0800 h on the morning before the jump by comparison with scores obtained from the same subjects 3–5 days previously. However, a psychological instrument for rating of events indicated significantly increased intensity, and sympathetic nervous system activity, as measured by the salivary amylase response, was increased over self-control values. Salivary cortisol and testosterone levels were significantly lower on the morning of the jump than self-control values and values in control subjects determined at the same time of day. However, plasma LH was not suppressed. The anxiety and stress measures as well as the rating of events rose to high levels just before the jump. With the exception of testosterone, which remained low, serum cortisol, PRL, and GH all increased greatly subsequent to the rise in psychological measures, reached peak values before or shortly after landing, and declined significantly within the next hour. Anxiety and subjective stress scores declined to those of the self-control values within 15 min after landing, but the rating of events scale remained significantly elevated. In summary, reported anxiety associated with a purely psychological stressor was suppressed until within a few hours preceding the event, but was preceded by an increase in sympathetic nervous system activity and suppression of plasma cortisol and salivary testosterone levels. The event itself was associated with a reversal of the cortisol decline; other stress-associated hormones increased, but salivary testosterone remained low.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. G. Mellott, P. B. Sharp, and L. M. Anderson Biobehavioral Measures in a Critical-Care Healing Environment J Holist Nurs, June 1, 2008; 26(2): 128 - 135. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. A GRANGER, K. T KIVLIGHAN, M. EL-SHEIKH, E. B GORDIS, and L. R STROUD Salivary {alpha}-Amylase in Biobehavioral Research: Recent Developments and Applications Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., March 1, 2007; 1098(1): 122 - 144. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. T Chatterton Jr, J. Zujewski, E. T Mateo, J. Eng-Wong, and V C. Jordan Effect of raloxifene on salivary sex steroid concentrations in premenopausal women J. Endocrinol., December 1, 2006; 191(3): 599 - 604. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				U. Ehlert, K. Erni, G. Hebisch, and U. Nater Salivary {alpha}-Amylase Levels after Yohimbine Challenge in Healthy Men J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2006; 91(12): 5130 - 5133. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. A. Granger, K. T. Kivlighan, C. Blair, M. El-Sheikh, J. Mize, J. A. Lisonbee, J. A. Buckhalt, L. R. Stroud, K. Handwerger, and E. B. Schwartz Integrating the measurement of salivary {alpha}-amylase into studies of child health, development, and social relationships Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, April 1, 2006; 23(2): 267 - 290. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. Nierop, A. Bratsikas, A. Klinkenberg, U. M. Nater, R. Zimmermann, and U. Ehlert Prolonged Salivary Cortisol Recovery in Second-Trimester Pregnant Women and Attenuated Salivary {alpha}-Amylase Responses to Psychosocial Stress in Human Pregnancy J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2006; 91(4): 1329 - 1335. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Axelsson, T. Akerstedt, G. Kecklund, A. Lindqvist, and R. Attefors Hormonal changes in satisfied and dissatisfied shift workers across a shift cycle J Appl Physiol, November 1, 2003; 95(5): 2099 - 2105. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Bergmann, S. Huber, H. Machler, E. Liebl, H. Hinghofer-Szalkay, P. Rehak, and B. Rigler The Influence of Medical Information on the Perioperative Course of Stress in Cardiac Surgery Patients Anesth. Analg., November 1, 2001; 93(5): 1093 - 1099. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. A. Morgan III, S. Wang, A. Rasmusson, G. Hazlett, G. Anderson, and D. S. Charney Relationship Among Plasma Cortisol, Catecholamines, Neuropeptide Y, and Human Performance During Exposure to Uncontrollable Stress Psychosom Med, May 1, 2001; 63(3): 412 - 422. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Garg, M.-M. Chren, L. P. Sands, M. S. Matsui, K. D. Marenus, K. R. Feingold, and P. M. Elias Psychological Stress Perturbs Epidermal Permeability Barrier Homeostasis: Implications for the Pathogenesis of Stress-Associated Skin Disorders Arch Dermatol, January 1, 2001; 137(1): 53 - 59. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. T. Chatterton Jr., P. D. Hill, J. C. Aldag, K. R. Hodges, S. M. Belknap, and M. J. Zinaman Relation of Plasma Oxytocin and Prolactin Concentrations to Milk Production in Mothers of Preterm Infants: Influence of Stress J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2000; 85(10): 3661 - 3668. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				P. D. Hill, R. T. Chatterton Jr., and J. C. Aldag Serum Prolactin in Breastfeeding: State of the Science Biol Res Nurs, July 1, 1999; 1(1): 65 - 75. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. P. Koziris, R. C. Hickson, R. T. Chatterton Jr., R. T. Groseth, J. M. Christie, D. G. Goldflies, and T. G. Unterman Serum levels of total and free IGF-I and IGFBP-3 are increased and maintained in long-term training J Appl Physiol, April 1, 1999; 86(4): 1436 - 1442. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. T. Chatterton Jr. and S. L. Dooley Reversal of Diurnal Cortisol Rhythm and Suppression of Plasma Testosterone in Obstetric Residents on Call Reproductive Sciences, January 1, 1999; 6(1): 50 - 54. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Schedlowski and T. O. F. Wagner Psychological Stress and Sky Diving--Authors' Responsec J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 1998; 83(4): 1397 - 1397. [Full Text]

				B. Dugué, E. Leppänen, and R. Gräsbeck Psychological Stress and Skydivingb J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 1998; 83(4): 1396a - 1397. [Full Text]

				R. T. Chatterton Psychological Stress and Skydiving--Author's Responsed J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 1998; 83(4): 1397a - 1398. [Full Text]