Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of skill-based training compared to physical training on hormonal indices and cognitive performance in competitive athletes. Methods: 60 professional male athletes were randomly and equally divided into two groups: skill-based training and physical training. Each group trained for eight weeks, three 60-minute sessions per week. Hormonal indices including cortisol, testosterone, growth hormone, and IGF-1, and cognitive performance including working memory, Stroop test, and processing speed were measured before and after the training period. Results: The results showed that the skill-based training group had a significant decrease in cortisol (p = 0.001) and a significant increase in testosterone (p = 0.008) , growth hormone (p = 0.03) , and IGF-1 (p = 0.02) compared to the pretest, while the physical training group showed smaller changes. Also, significant improvements in cognitive performance were observed in the skill-based training group: working memory accuracy (p < 0.001) and processing speed (p = 0.02) increased compared to the pretest. Conclusion: The results indicate that skill-based training can improve hormonal and cognitive adaptations in competitive athletes and is a more effective option than physical training alone. It is recommended that coaches and training designers incorporate skill-based exercises with appropriate cognitive load into their training programs to improve the mental and physiological performance of athletes.
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Jadidi, N. (2026). The Effect of Skill-Based Training versus Physical Training on Endocrine Function and Cognitive Performance in Competitive Athletes. Sport Psychology Studies, 15(57), 147–162. https://doi.org/10.22089/spsyj.2026.18900.2638
MLA
Jadidi, N. "The Effect of Skill-Based Training versus Physical Training on Endocrine Function and Cognitive Performance in Competitive Athletes", Sport Psychology Studies, 15, 57, 2026, 147–162. doi: 10.22089/spsyj.2026.18900.2638
HARVARD
Jadidi, N. (2026). 'The Effect of Skill-Based Training versus Physical Training on Endocrine Function and Cognitive Performance in Competitive Athletes', Sport Psychology Studies, 15(57), pp. 147–162. doi: 10.22089/spsyj.2026.18900.2638
CHICAGO
Jadidi, N., "The Effect of Skill-Based Training versus Physical Training on Endocrine Function and Cognitive Performance in Competitive Athletes." Sport Psychology Studies, 15 57 (2026): 147–162, doi: 10.22089/spsyj.2026.18900.2638
VANCOUVER
Jadidi N. The Effect of Skill-Based Training versus Physical Training on Endocrine Function and Cognitive Performance in Competitive Athletes. Sport Psychology Studies. 2026;15(57):147–162 (In Persian). doi: 10.22089/spsyj.2026.18900.2638
