Post-Exercise Affect: The Effect of Mode Preference

Abstract

It has been suggested that the performance of preferred modes of exercise will serve to maximize the affective response to exercise. Support has come from work that has shown the effect of exercise on affect to be mediated by enjoyment. However, there is a need to compare modes of exercise that differ in preference and enjoyment, yet are similar in intensity, duration and muscle group. This experiment was designed to achieve this aim. Thirty-four college-aged women completed 20 minutes of exercise on high and low preference modes of continuous exercise. Intensity was maintained at 65-75% of HRR. Affect was measured by the PANAS, collected prior to and at 5, 20, and 40 min post exercise. Results provided partial support for the hypothesis as mode preference moderated the improvement in positive affect, with no effect on the reduction in negative affect. Interestingly, regardless of mode preference, enjoyment ratings were found to mediate the change in both positive and negative affect. Acute (single) bouts of exercise have long been recognized as an efficacious, nonpharmacological method to regulate a wide array of positive and negative psychological states. For example, acute bouts of exercise have been shown to reduce state anxiety (peer-reviewed literature on the effects of acute exercise on mood and affective states. The 81 studies consisted of pre-experimental (n = 40), quasi-experimental (n = 18), and experimental (n = 23) designs, with over 85% of the studies reporting some degree of exercise-induced enhancement. A variety of exercise modes including weight lifting

Regular aerobic exercise increases dispositional mindfulness in men: A randomized controlled trial

“…As a consequence, they may not have benefited as much with respect to relaxation and mindfulness. Such reasoning is in line with previous research indicating that physical exercise has the highest potential for enhancing mental health when personal preferences are accounted for (Asztalos et al, 2012;Berger & Owen, 1992;Miller, Bartholomew, & Springer, 2005). However, as we have not directly measured the effectiveness of the relaxation training, this issue needs to be resolved in future research.…”

An experience sampling study of physical activity and positive affect: investigating the role of situational motivation and perceived intensity across time

“…Still, other studies and older experimental research have found that exercise-enhanced affective states (i.e., above baseline levels) do generally persist for three to four hours. 27,85,87 Our naturalistic data suggests that this might not necessarily be the case, or rather, that it may be relative to positive affect levels achieved postactivity. Our findings and those of others, for example, 85 seem to support propositions that the effect of physical activity can last, but that it is relative, variable, and diminishes over time.…”

“…27,85,87 Our naturalistic data suggests that this might not necessarily be the case, or rather, that it may be relative to positive affect levels achieved postactivity. Our findings and those of others, for example, 85 seem to support propositions that the effect of physical activity can last, but that it is relative, variable, and diminishes over time. 19 Another aim of this investigation was to clarify the relationship between the perceived intensity of physical activity and positive affect, doing so in natural physical activity environments over a 2-week period.…”

Investigating the ‘rigid persistence paradox’ in professional rugby union football

“…Ten positive (e.g., interested, proud, alert) and ten negative (e.g., distressed, irritable, upset) items were assessed on a five-point scale ranging from 1 (very slightly or not at all) to 5 (extremely). Studies have shown the PANAS to have acceptable psychometric properties (see Miller, Bartholomew, & Springer, 2005;Watson et al, 1988). In the present study, Cronbach alphas of .81 and .83 were obtained for positive affect and negative affect, respectively.…”