A2 Review article, Literature review, Systematic review
Physical activity and cortisol regulation : A meta-analysis (2023)

Moyers, S. A., & Hagger, M. S. (2023). Physical activity and cortisol regulation : A meta-analysis. Biological Psychology, 179, Article 108548. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108548

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Moyers, Susette A.; Hagger, Martin S.

Journal or series: Biological Psychology

ISSN: 0301-0511

eISSN: 1873-6246

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 29/03/2023

Volume: 179

Article number: 108548

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Publication country: Netherlands

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108548

Research data link: https://osf.io/ebpy2/

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/93442

Abstract

Physical activity participation is associated with effective stress coping, indicated by decreases in both physiological stress reactivity and perceived stress. Quantifying the effect of physical activity on the diurnal regulation of one key physiological stress indicator, the stress hormone, cortisol, across studies may demonstrate the extent to which physical activity participation is associated with diurnal HPA axis regulation. We meta-analyzed studies examining relations between physical activity participation and indices of HPA axis regulation: the diurnal cortisol slope and the cortisol awakening response. We also examined moderators of the relation. The analysis revealed a small, non-zero negative averaged correlation between physical activity and the diurnal cortisol slope (r = −0.043, 95% CI [−0.080, −0.004]). Examination of sample sociodemographic differences, study design characteristics, cortisol measurement methods, and physical activity variables as moderators revealed few effects on the relation between physical activity and diurnal cortisol slope. We did not observe lower levels of variability in the mean cortisol awakening response at higher levels of physical activity participation, and moderator analyses showed little evidence of reductions in heterogeneity for this effect. We found some evidence of systematic publication bias. Findings suggest higher physical activity is associated with a steeper diurnal cortisol slope. However, the cortisol awakening response did not differ by physical activity level. Future studies testing the physical activity and cortisol regulation association should use standardized physical activity measures, follow guidelines for better quality cortisol sampling collection and analysis, and test relations in large-scale empirical studies to confirm the direction and causality of the effect.

Keywords: stress (biological phenomena); hormonal factors; corticosteroids; physical activity; physical training; meta-analysis

Free keywords: diurnal cortisol slope; cortisol awakening response; physical activity; exercise; HPA axis regulation; health behavior

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2023

Preliminary JUFO rating: 2