Dynamics of exercise induced affect.

Abstract

This study investigated: (a) whether moderate intensity aerobic exercise exerted a significant affective influence during, and postexercise, (b) the nature of the affective response to exercise in relation to positive and negative affects, and affects associated with physiological distress, and (c) whether exercise induced affect was significantly influenced by exercise behaviour. Habitual exercisers (n = 15) and sedentary participants (n = 13) undertook three randomly allocated interventions; (a) exercise (EX; i.e., 20 min of cycling at 60% estimated VO2max), (b) normal workstation duties for 60 min (WRK), and (c) a 60 min sedentary lunch break (SED). Affect was measured pre, post, and 90 min postintervention, as well as every 5 min during exercise, using the Subjective Exercise Experiences Scale (SEES; McAuley & Courneya, 1994). Exercise behaviour had no significant affect on affective responses to exercise in this study (p > .05). Significant (p < .05) postintervention increases in positive affect were found for EX compared to WRK and SED indicating that exercise did produce a positive affective influence. Despite enduring postexercise (i.e., 90 min) improvements in both positive and negative affects, and affects related to fatigue, the affective response during exercise was characterised by significant (p < .05) decreases in levels of positive affect and increased levels of affects related to fatigue.