The Impact of a Single Coaching Session on Affective State and Neurophysiological Markers: A Pilot Study
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EVIDENCE BASED COACHING AND MENTORING, vol.24, no.3, pp.385-392, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 24 Issue: 3
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.1177/17418305261455152
- Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EVIDENCE BASED COACHING AND MENTORING
- Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, Psycinfo, Directory of Open Access Journals, Business Source Ultimate (EBSCO)
- Page Numbers: pp.385-392
- Istanbul University Affiliated: No
Abstract
This study examined whether a single coaching session produces psychological and measurable neurobiochemical effects. Fifteen participants with previous coaching expertise engaged in a one-group pretest and posttest design. High-performance liquid chromatography examined plasma dopamine-norepinephrine, and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule rated mood. Positive affect exhibited a considerable enhancement (p = .002), while negative affect demonstrated a notable reduction (p = .006). Hormonal alterations were not statistically significant; nevertheless, a relative rise in dopamine and a reduction in norepinephrine were noted. These findings indicate that a single session has substantial immediate psychological advantages, and corresponding neurobiological patterns point to possible directions for further study.