In the Zone: An Exploration of Personal Characteristics Underlying Affective Responses to Heavy Exercise

Abstract

Positive affective responses to exercise have been linked with longer term adherence. The Dual-Mode Model indicates that affective responses during heavy exercise (between the ventilatory threshold and the respiratory compensation point) are subject to interindividual variability (zone of response variability). Participants (N = 48) completed measures to assess personal characteristics prior to a graded exercise test (GXT). Responses to the Feeling Scale were recorded during the GXT and subsequently used to group participants as either Negative Responders or Neutral/Positive Responders to heavy exercise. Discriminant Function Analysis was applied and a significant weighted linear composite predicted affective response. Preference for exercise intensity and sex were significant predictors (p = .003).Negative Responders had lower Preference scores and were more likely to be men. The combination of these two variables successfully predicted group membership 71% of the time. Individual differences appear relevant when examining affective responses to heavy exercise.

Affective responses to resistance exercise: Toward a consensus on the timing of assessments

“…Specifically, Ekkekakis et al (2005) introduced the constructs of exercise intensity preference, defined as the predisposition to choose a particular level of exercise intensity when given the opportunity, and exercise intensity tolerance, defined as the ability to tolerate an imposed level of intensity that is unpleasant or uncomfortable. These individualdifference dispositions, assessed by the Preference for and Tolerance of the Intensity of Exercise Questionnaire (PRETIE-Q), have been found to account for significant portions of the variance in affective valence responses to exercise (e.g., Box & Petruzzello, 2020;Jones et al, 2018), and may have implications for the affectadherence relationship (Faria et al, 2021;Teixeira et al, 2022). Given the present finding of escalating variance in affective valence responses to increasing levels of resistance, it is reasonable to suggest that further investigations of the relation of affective valence ratings with intensity-preference and, especially, intensity-tolerance are warranted.…”

Did You Enjoy It? The Role of Intensity-Trait Preference/Tolerance in Basic Psychological Needs and Exercise Enjoyment

“…They have shown that preference (i.e., a predisposition to select a particular level of intensity) and tolerance (i.e., a trait that influences one's ability to continue exercising at a defined level of intensity) are linked to individual's affective response to exercise and fitness performance (Ekkekakis et al, 2005(Ekkekakis et al, , 2006(Ekkekakis et al, , 2007Hall et al, 2014;Jones et al, 2018). Some of these studies have shown that preference and tolerance were positively associated with total leisure-time exercise (Ekkekakis et al, 2008), exercise frequency (Ekkekakis et al, 2007;Teixeira et al, 2021), and could predict affective responses in high intensity exercise protocols (Jones et al, 2018;Box and Petruzzello, 2020). However, and despite some studies providing evidence in favor of an intensity-guided exercise prescription aiming to promote distinct and beneficial behavioral, cognitive and emotional outcomes, a large gap still exists in other contexts, populations, and variables of interest.…”

A citizen science study of short physical activity breaks at school: improvements in cognition and wellbeing with self-paced activity

“…High Intensity Training (HIT) is known to be beneficial for cognitive function in children, although the impact differs between individuals [35]. Recent evidence in adults shows that preference for higher intensity activity is predictive of affective response [36]-i.e. those who feel better after intense PA are more likely to want to do intense activity than those who do not feel better.…”