• Investigating the relationship between psychological stress and salivary cortisol levels in students of the third stage of the Iranian Science Olympiads: A pre-test-post-test psychophysiological study
  • Danial Damarcheli,1,* Sedigheh Jafari ,2 Morteza Damarcheli ,3
    1. Department of Computer Engineering, SUT
    2. Iran University of Medical Sciences
    3. Department of Research and Development Institution, Tehran, Iran


  • Introduction: Scientific Olympiads in Iran are among the most competitive academic pathways for elite students. The psychological pressure stemming from this competition, particularly the score disparities between gold, silver, and bronze medals, can lead to severe stress and anxiety. Salivary cortisol, as a reliable biomarker of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis stress response, serves as a valuable tool for assessing the psychophysiological status of these students.
  • Methods: In a longitudinal analytical study with a pre-test/post-test design, approximately 200 students participating in the third stage of Iran’s Scientific Olympiads were evaluated. The research tools included standardized psychological questionnaires (DASS-21, MBI-SS, academic satisfaction, and perceived educational discrimination) and salivary cortisol measurements using the ELISA method, conducted twice daily (morning and evening) at two time points (before the final exam and after result announcement). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, paired t-tests, and mixed linear models.
  • Results: The mean salivary cortisol level in the normal population was 7.8 ± 6.11 µg/mL. Among Olympiad students, pre-result cortisol levels were 13.23 ± 6.2 µg/mL for gold medalists, 14.63 ± 4.76 µg/mL for silver medalists, and 13.55 ± 7.86 µg/mL for bronze medalists. Post-result levels decreased to 8.47 µg/mL, 10.42 µg/mL, and 11.23 µg/mL, respectively. Despite the overall reduction, cortisol levels remained higher in the silver and bronze groups compared to the gold group, indicating persistent stress due to the necessity of participating in the national university entrance exam. In the gold group, cortisol levels were still elevated compared to the normal population, likely due to pressure from preparing for international competitions.
  • Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that Scientific Olympiads significantly impact students’ psychological stress and biological responses. Silver and bronze medalists experience more persistent stress due to fears of underperforming in the university entrance exam, while gold medalists, despite a relative reduction, continue to exhibit elevated cortisol levels. These results highlight the need for designing and implementing psychoeducational interventions, such as mindfulness and relaxation techniques, to support the mental health of Olympiad students.
  • Keywords: Scientific Olympiad, academic stress, salivary cortisol, psychophysiology, mental health