The Moderating Role of Trait Anxiety in the Relationship Between Acute Aerobic Exercise and Cognitive Control in College Students

IF 2.7 2区医学 Q1 PSYCHIATRY

Depression and Anxiety Pub Date : 2026-09-28 DOI:10.1155/da/1381460

Zongyu Yang, Xiaoming Liu, Yi Tang, Long Yin, Fang Li

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to introduce trait anxiety as an individual-difference factor and further examine the complex relationship between acute aerobic exercise and cognitive control in college students.

Method

A mixed experimental design was adopted. Trait anxiety was assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and used to classify participants into high- and low-trait-anxiety groups. Cognitive control was measured with the AX continuous performance task (AX-CPT). The intervention conditions consisted of 20 min of seated rest and moderate-intensity acute aerobic exercise. A 2 (intervention: acute aerobic exercise vs. rest) × 2 (time: pretest vs. posttest) × 2 (trait anxiety: high vs. low) repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted.

Results

Only participants with high trait anxiety showed a significant reduction in posttest reaction time on BX trials, an index of proactive control, following acute aerobic exercise (p < 0.001), with no significant change in accuracy (p > 0.050). In addition, the proactive behavioral index (PBI) for error rate [PBI(error)] significantly increased in this group after exercise (p = 0.031). No significant changes were observed in d′(Proactive), A-cue bias, PBI(RT), PBI(composite), or indices of reactive control under any intervention condition. Among participants with low trait anxiety, neither intervention produced significant changes in proactive control, as reflected by BX trials, or reactive control, as reflected by AY trials and d′(Reactive) (all ps > 0.050).

Conclusion

Trait anxiety exerted a significant influence on the relationship between acute aerobic exercise and cognitive control, with this effect being particularly evident in reaction time during proactive control. These findings suggest that future exercise interventions should incorporate individuals’ baseline cognitive control characteristics to develop more precise and individualized exercise prescriptions.

查看原文本刊更多论文

特质焦虑在大学生急性有氧运动与认知控制关系中的调节作用。

目的：本研究旨在引入特质焦虑作为个体差异因素，进一步探讨大学生急性有氧运动与认知控制之间的复杂关系。方法：采用混合试验设计。使用状态-特质焦虑量表（STAI）评估特质焦虑，并将参与者分为高特质焦虑组和低特质焦虑组。认知控制测试采用AX连续表现任务（AX- cpt）。干预条件为坐下休息20分钟和中等强度的急性有氧运动。2（干预：急性有氧运动vs.休息）× 2（时间：测试前vs.测试后）× 2（特质焦虑：高vs.低）进行重复测量方差分析（ANOVA）。结果：在急性有氧运动后，只有高特质焦虑的参与者在BX试验（主动控制指标）的测试后反应时间显著减少（p < 0.001），而准确性没有显著变化（p < 0.05）。此外，运动后的主动行为指数（PBI）错误率[PBI(error)]显著升高（p = 0.031）。在任何干预条件下，d'（主动）、a -线索偏差、PBI（RT）、PBI（复合）或反应性控制指标均未观察到显著变化。在低特质焦虑的参与者中，两种干预措施都没有产生显著的主动控制变化（如BX试验所反映的），或反应性控制变化（如AY试验和d'（reactive）所反映的）（均p < 0.05）。结论：特质焦虑对急性有氧运动与认知控制的关系有显著影响，这种影响在主动控制的反应时间上尤为明显。这些发现表明，未来的运动干预应结合个体的基线认知控制特征，以制定更精确和个性化的运动处方。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Depression and Anxiety 医学-精神病学

CiteScore

15.00

自引率

1.40%

发文量

审稿时长

4-8 weeks

期刊介绍： Depression and Anxiety is a scientific journal that focuses on the study of mood and anxiety disorders, as well as related phenomena in humans. The journal is dedicated to publishing high-quality research and review articles that contribute to the understanding and treatment of these conditions. The journal places a particular emphasis on articles that contribute to the clinical evaluation and care of individuals affected by mood and anxiety disorders. It prioritizes the publication of treatment-related research and review papers, as well as those that present novel findings that can directly impact clinical practice. The journal's goal is to advance the field by disseminating knowledge that can lead to better diagnosis, treatment, and management of these disorders, ultimately improving the quality of life for those who suffer from them.