Stress Factors Leading to Decline in Executive Function in Female Soccer Players

<p>The executive functions of the prefrontal cortex, such as attention and concentration, are important for athletes' performance because they are responsible not only for instantaneous and accurate situational decision during games, but also for motor coordination, such as kicking and controlling a ball while running. In fact, it has been suggested that soccer players with higher levels of competition have higher executive function (Vestberg et al., 2012). However, while various studies have been conducted on conditioning related to motor performance, there is still no conditioning focused on executive function. In this study, we conducted cognitive and psychometric tests with the aim of clarifying the factors that contribute to the decline of executive function in soccer players. Thirty university female soccer players were measured on executive function tasks and psychological indices in August before the start of training for the winter league and in December just before the winter league. For the executive function task, a spatial Stroop task was used, and reaction time and correct response rate were analyzed. The psychological indices were K6 for depression, POMS2 for vitality and fatigue, and Chalder Fatigue Index for chronic fatigue assessment. The Daily Stressor Scale for College Students was used as the psychological stress measure, and the Training Load (training intensity x time answered on a questionnaire) was used as the physical stress measure. The difference between the two measurements showed a positive correlation trend between the POMS2 fatigue and Stroop task reaction time (r = 0.34, p = 0.07), and the POMS2 fatigue was positively correlated with the existential stressor items of the college student stressor scale (r = 0.44, p < 0.05). These results suggest that increased fatigue due to mental stressors may contribute to impaired executive function in female soccer players. We will now examine the results in conjunction with physiological stress indices and aim to develop a new conditioning method focusing on executive function.</p>