Collegiate athletics is widely regarded as being both physically and psychologically demanding. However, there is debate about how different levels of competition affect athletes at two specific levels: Division I (DI) and Division III (DIII). At Union College, both athletic divisions face the same academic rigor, so investigating differences in stress responses between DI and DIII athletes will not be confounded by enrollment at different institutions, allowing for direct comparisons. One key indicator of stress is the hormone cortisol, which regulates metabolism, blood glucose, and immune function. This steroid hormone is released by the adrenal gland in response to stress in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Given cortisol's significant effects on metabolism, fat storage, and recovery, it is important to understand the impact of exercise and athletics on cortisol release and overall activity. In this study, we are investigating how differences in training and external pressure of DI and DIII female athletes change how they respond to stress. Baseline cortisol levels are an indicator of stress levels, whereas peaks in cortisol levels are indicative of how well an athlete can cope with external stressors. Examining spikes in cortisol levels can help determine whether the typically higher pressures and training expectations of Division I athletics make women more likely to experience long-term stress. I hypothesized that there would be no statistically significant difference between cortisol levels in athletes across the two divisions because of the similar academic workload, resources, and training facilities, along with accommodations and scholarships given in DI. In this study, participants underwent the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) to induce psychological stress. Participants filled out surveys and gave saliva before the TSST, directly after, and then after a 30-minute cooldown period. Based on the results of the surveys, there have been a few significant differences in the emotional stress of the participants between groups. The next steps will involve measuring salivary cortisol to determine whether the cortisol production matches the emotional stress levels recorded in the surveys.
Understanding cortisol changes between DI and DIII athletics can enhance the understanding of whether DI and DIII athletes have variable stress responses, which should be taken into account during the evaluation of their athletic and academic needs across