Affective Responses to Increasing- and Decreasing-Intensity Resistance Training Protocols

Abstract

This study compared the effects of an increasing-intensity (UP) and a decreasing-intensity (DOWN) resistance training protocol on affective responses across six training sessions. Novice participants (Mage 43.5 ± 13.7 years) were randomly assigned to UP (n = 18) or DOWN (n = 17) resistance training groups. Linear mixed-effects models showed that the evolution of affective valence within each training session was significantly moderated by the group (b = −0.45, p ≤ .001), with participants in the UP group reporting a decline in pleasure during each session (b = −0.82) and the DOWN group reporting an improvement (b = 0.97; ps < .001). Remembered pleasure was significantly higher in the DOWN group compared to the UP group (b = 0.57, p = .004). These findings indicate that a pattern of decreasing intensity throughout a resistance exercise session can elicit more positive affective responses and retrospective affective evaluations of resistance training.

A systematic narrative review of extrinsic strategies to improve affective responses to exercise

“…The decreasing intensity resulted in more pleasure during exercise, more enjoyment, and more remembered pleasure. Also see Hutchinson et al ( 143 ) for a more recent study, not included in the systematic search.…”

“…That is, does it matter whether an exercise session starts or ends with a high intensity, or higher levels of pleasure? The findings of Zenko et al (138) and Hutchinson et al (78,143) aligned with earlier behavioral science research focused on the peak-, end-, and trend-rules, which indicate that overall summary evaluations are highly influenced by the most intense moment, last moment, and overall trend (e.g., increasing or decreasing pleasure) of an experience (146,147). Further, these results are aligned with prior research from exercise psychology demonstrating that the peak-and end-of an experience explains a large percentage of the variance in one's overall memory of the experience (148).…”

Enjoyment and Affective Responses to Moderate and High-Intensity Exercise: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Individuals with Subsyndromal PTSD

“…With regard to rest periods, Martinez et al reported greater feelings of pleasure during, and higher enjoyment following interval exercise using shorter intervals after controlling for total work [80]. Additionally, a recent study reported greater feelings of pleasure following resistance exercise that decreased intensity during exercise relative to resistance exercise that increased intensity during exercise [81], thus indicating that exercise intensity progression can impact affective responses. As high-intensity interval exercise was listed as the second most popular fitness trend in 2020 [82], there is a need to study affective responses to high-intensity interval exercise, but caution needs to be given when assessing the true exercise intensity and adherence to these programs.…”

Determinants of exercise adherence in sedentary middle-aged and older adults

“…Researchers should also explore additional confounding variables, such as intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, preference and tolerance profiles, and an individual's affective response to exercise. 69 Fourth, future studies should address a follow-up assessment that would include insights into long-term adherence to the behavior, health outcomes, number of relapses, and challenges.…”