Gallucci, A. N., & Williams, N. A. (2001). Physiological indicators of psychological stress prior to competitive exercise. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 33(5), Supplement abstract 1468.

It was found there was little association between physiological responses to pre-competitive stress and psychometric indicators (State Anxiety Inventory and State Trait Anxiety Inventory). Contrary to the assertion of the authors that "few studies have tested whether significant relationships exist between physiological data and psychometric scores", this finding confirmed the extensive work conducted in the 1950-60 era which showed that:

• stress reactions are individual,
• physiological reactions are general, leading to the postulation of the General Activation Syndrome, which did not discriminate between different stress conditions,
• psychological factors do discriminate between stress conditions and stress disorders, and
• the measurement of psychological factors should include a variety of tools and methodologies rather than one evaluation.

Implication. Physiological and psychological reactions to pre-competition stress are not related.

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