RESPONSES TO UNDERWATER EXERCISE IN SCUBA-DIVERS DIFFERING IN TRAIT ANXIETY

Fifteen male scuba divers performed underwater leg ergometer exercise in an effort to determine if trait anxiety was related to their physio logic or perceptual responses. Psychologic assessment completed before exercise testing revealed that the sample exhibited positive psycholo gic profiles. However, five individuals possessed trait anxiety scores above the published mean (M = 46.0). Their responses to exercise were compared with the five participants with the lowest trait anxiety sco res (M = 30.6). The exercise task was 20 min of steady-state underwate r leg ergometer exercise. Oxygen consumption, CO2 production, minute v entilatory volume, breathing frequency, and heart rate were assessed a t rest and every 5 min during exercise. Perception of effort and breat hing discomfort were also determined during exercise. Each of the phys iologic and perceptual variables increased (P < 0.05) with exercise. T he only group main effect (P < 0.05) occurred for respiration rate. Th e high trait anxious group took 7.4 fewer breaths per minute (13.1 vs. 20.5) compared with low trait anxious group. These results have impli cations regarding the use of intervention strategies in persons at pot ential risk of experiencing panic while scuba diving.