AFFECTIVE RESPONSES TO ACUTE EXERCISE - A TEST OF OPPONENT-PROCESS THEORY

Based on Solomon's Opponent-Process theory (1980), it was predicted th at individuals involved in a regimen of regular aerobic exercise (acti ve; n=18) would respond to an acute bout of exercise with reduced nega tive and/or increased positive affect compared to nonactive counterpar ts (nonactive; n=12). State Anxiety (SA), positive affect (PA), negati ve affect (NA), and self-reported fatigue were assessed immediately pr ior to, every 6 min during, and every 6 min following a 24 min bout of bicycle exercise performed at an RPE of 13 (+/-1). As expected, no si gnificant group differences occurred for RPE (M=13.5 for nonactive, 13 .2 for active). The active group did, however, exercise at a greater a bsolute workload than the nonactive group (261.0+/-22.4 W vs 200.0+/-1 9.98 W, respectively). Analyses indicated similar changes in SA and fa tigue for both groups, with significant reductions in SA occurring at 6 min postexercise and remaining below pre-exercise levels throughout the post-exercise period, while fatigue was reduced at 12, 18, and 24 min post-exercise. A significant Group x Time interaction occurred for affective valence (PA - NA; p<.01). Post hoc analyses indicated that for the active group, affect increased modestly (i.e., more PA, less N A) during exercise; this increase was sustained post-exercise. The non active group evidenced a sharp drop in affect (i.e., less PA, more NA) during exercise followed by a small post-exercise rise which did not return to pre-exercise levels. The results of the present study partia lly support the Opponent-Process model as an explanation for exercise- related affect. Although there was no differential anxiety response as a function of activity level as the model would predict, there was a differential response for affective valence in accordance with predict ions.