The Effect of Different Sport Stress Coping Styles on Sources of Acute Stress and Salivary Cortisol in Wrestlers

Coping style is one of the substantial factors influencing sport achievements in sport competitions. The main aim of the present study was to examine the effect of sport stress coping styles on sources of acute stress and salivary cortisol in wrestlers. With regard to the criteria and variables of this study، 30 out of 270 active national wrestlers participated according to the cut-off point of coping styles questionnaire in two approach and avoidant coping groups. The participants were asked to complete Sources of wrestling acute stress questionnaire and to collect the saliva to measure salivary cortisol levels. Multivariate analysis of variance results indicated that sources of acute stress were significantly higher in approach coping wrestlers than avoidant coping group (P=0. 001). Also، salivary cortisol level was significantly lower in avoidant coping group than the approach coping group (P=0. 012). According to the results، different stress coping styles influenced perceived stress of acute stress and salivary cortisol levels in wrestlers. The findings of this study can be used in instruction of different sport stress coping styles in wrestlers in order to reduce their mental pressure in the competitions.