The Relationship between Salivary IgA and Cortisol Concentrations and Psychological Overtraining Symptoms in Elite Soccer Players

Document Type : Original Article

Abstract

This study is to investigate the relationship between salivary IgA and cortisol concentration and the data 
elicited through the administration of French society of sports medicine questionnaire of psychological 
overtraining symptoms in elite soccer players. 
Accordingly, from among the Iranian premier league players, 30 participants with the mean and standard 
deviation of 24.1± 3.79 in years, 180± 7.29 centimeters in height, 75.2 ± 8.09 kg in weight, 22.97 ± 1.21 kg/ 
square height in meter in body mass index, and 53.26 ± 2.79 milliliter per kilogram body weight per minute in 
aerobic power were selected voluntarily and purposefully as the sample. In the rest day following the exercise 
(24 hours with no exercise), the psychological overtraining symptoms questionnaire, including 54 “Yes/No” 
question items, were administered to the players. On the same day, three specimens of every player’s saliva 
were taken at certain intervals (8:00 A.M., 11:00 A.M., and 5:00 P.M. ). These specimens were used to 
measure the average concentration of cortisol during the day. In this sampling, IgA concentration was 
measured from the 11:00 A.M. specimen. 
Subsequently, the data was analyzed using the descriptive statistical methods and Spearman rank correlation 
coefficient formula, which suggested a significant, positive relationship between the questionnaire results as 
the psychological overtraining index and cortisol concentration at 8:00 A.M. and 11:00 A.M., respectively 
(r=0.71; r=0.62; r=0.61; p<.01). However, there proved to remain a significant, negative correlation between 
the questionnaire results and IgA concentration (r= -0.51; p<.05). 
The findings of the study suggest that the psychological overtraining symptoms questionnaire can be a 
positive tool in determining and preventing the overtraining phenomenon. 

Keywords

• Cortisol
• Immunoglobulin A
• Overtraining
• Psychological overtraining questionnaire

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