Abstract
Previous research has shown that competitive encounters elicit hormonal changes which are then further influenced by the outcome of the competition. Several studies reported significant increase in testosterone (T) and decrease in cortisol (C) levels in winners, although some studies have found contradictory results.
There are several factors which might be, at least partly, responsible for these findings; from individual differences in motivation to win the contest to differences in the nature of the competition (some physically demanding, some not). We carried out a study employing mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters to investigate the effect of winning or losing on their hormonal levels, while including the modulating effect of affective states here conveyed by their individual motivation to win.
We obtained T samples from 19 males and C samples from 11 males before and after the fight. Each time all participants also assessed their moods using PANAS questionnaire (consisting of Positive and Negative Affect score).
Our results showed no significant differences in reactive T levels between winners and losers. However, we found significant increase in C levels in winners, but not in losers.
Moreover, changes in C levels were positively associated with changes in Positive Affect score. Physical confrontations represent both physically and psychologically demanding events, thus increase in C levels in winners might be the outcome of greater effort and stress experienced which is consistent with several previous studies.
This finding is further supported by positive association between increase in C levels and positive mood after the fight.