Trajectory of Psychological Adaptation During an 8-Day Fast: Changes in Subjective Well-Being, Mood, and Neuroendocrine Responses
- 1Collegium Medicum, Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa, 42-200 Czestochowa, Poland
- 2Department of Economy in Opole, WSB Merito University in Wroclaw, 53-609 Wrocław, Poland
- 3Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055 Katowice, Poland
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Prolonged fasting induces substantial metabolic and neuroendocrine adaptations; however, less is known about the accompanying psychological changes. This study evaluated changes in subjective well-being and mood during an 8-day fast in relation to serum concentrations of α -endorphin, serotonin, oxytocin, and cortisol. Methods: Fifteen male subjects in good health completed an 8-day fast. Subjective well-being was assessed each day using a comparative self-rating scale, and mood was evaluated using the Polish version of the UWIST Mood Adjective Checklist (UMACL). Serum concentrations of α-endorphin, serotonin, oxytocin, and cortisol were measured before and after the fast, both at rest and following a maximal exercise test on an ergometer. Results: Subjective well-being gradually improved during the fasting period, and tense arousal, a dimension of mood, decreased. No significant changes were observed in energetic arousal or hedonic tone. The combination of fasting and exercise was associated with significant increases in α-endorphin, serotonin, and cortisol concentrations. Fasting was associated with a significant increase in post-exercise cortisol concentrations, whereas exercise after fasting was associated with a significant increase in serotonin concentrations. Despite concurrent psychological and hormonal adaptations, no consistent relationships were found between changes in hormone concentrations and psychological variables. Conclusions: Prolonged fasting was accompanied by gradual psychological adaptation, reflected in improved subjective well-being and reduced tension, whereas exercise under these conditions was associated with neurohormonal changes. These changes were associated with the coordinated activation of multiple neuroendocrine systems, suggesting that psychological and neuroendocrine adaptations represent complementary responses to prolonged metabolic stress rather than being opposing processes.
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BibTeX
@article{pilis2026trajectory,
title = {{Trajectory of Psychological Adaptation During an 8-Day Fast: Changes in Subjective Well-Being, Mood, and Neuroendocrine Responses}},
author = {Karol Pilis and Krzysztof Stec and Wiesław Pilis and Alicja Żak and Anna Pilis and Paweł Dolibog and Alicja Minto},
journal = {Nutrients},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/nu18213634},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/21/3634},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Trajectory of Psychological Adaptation During an 8-Day Fast: Changes in Subjective Well-Being, Mood, and Neuroendocrine Responses
AU - Karol Pilis
AU - Krzysztof Stec
AU - Wiesław Pilis
AU - Alicja Żak
AU - Anna Pilis
AU - Paweł Dolibog
AU - Alicja Minto
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/31
JO - Nutrients
DO - 10.3390/nu18213634
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/21/3634
AB - Background/Objectives: Prolonged fasting induces substantial metabolic and neuroendocrine adaptations; however, less is known about the accompanying psychological changes. This study evaluated changes in subjective well-being and mood during an 8-day fast in relation to serum concentrations of α -endorphin, serotonin, oxytocin, and cortisol. Methods: Fifteen male subjects in good health completed an 8-day fast. Subjective well-being was assessed each day using a comparative self-rating scale, and mood was evaluated using the Polish version of the UWIST Mood Adjective Checklist (UMACL). Serum concentrations of α-endorphin, serotonin, oxytocin, and cortisol were measured before and after the fast, both at rest and following a maximal exercise test on an ergometer. Results: Subjective well-being gradually improved during the fasting period, and tense arousal, a dimension of mood, decreased. No significant changes were observed in energetic arousal or hedonic tone. The combination of fasting and exercise was associated with significant increases in α-endorphin, serotonin, and cortisol concentrations. Fasting was associated with a significant increase in post-exercise cortisol concentrations, whereas exercise after fasting was associated with a significant increase in serotonin concentrations. Despite concurrent psychological and hormonal adaptations, no consistent relationships were found between changes in hormone concentrations and psychological variables. Conclusions: Prolonged fasting was accompanied by gradual psychological adaptation, reflected in improved subjective well-being and reduced tension, whereas exercise under these conditions was associated with neurohormonal changes. These changes were associated with the coordinated activation of multiple neuroendocrine systems, suggesting that psychological and neuroendocrine adaptations represent complementary responses to prolonged metabolic stress rather than being opposing processes.
SN - 2072-6643
ER -