VARYING THE INTENSITY OF ACUTE EXERCISE - IMPLICATIONS FOR CHANGES INAFFECT

Little is known regarding effects of components of the exercise stimul us (e.g., intensity, duration) on affective responses, The effect of v arying levels of exercise intensity was examined for state anxiety (SA ), positive affect (energetic arosual; EA), and negative affect (tense arousal; TA). Twenty subjects (M age = 22.6 years; M VO(2)max = 47.8 ml . kg(-1). min(-1)) participated in 3 randomly assigned conditions: (a) no exercise (control), (b) cycling @ 55% VO(2)max, and (c) cycling @ VO(2)max. After being seated on an exercise bike, subjects complete d the affect measures and were then told what condition they had been assigned for that day, Subjects either exercised or sat quietly on the bike for 30 min, Affect measures were obtained during exercise (or co ntrol), upon cessation of each condition, and then during the 30 min p ost-condition period, No changes occurred for the control condition on any variables, SA increased (p<0.05) for both intensities during exer cise followed by a significant post-exercise reduction only in the 70% VO(2)max condition, EA increased (p<0.05) during exercise and remaine d elevated following both exercise intensities; increased EA was maint ained to a greater extent following the 70% intensity condition (p<0.0 5). These findings suggest that aerobic exercise (55-70% VO(2)max) eli cits not only decreases in negative feeling states (state anxiety) but also increases in positive affect, Further, there is some evidence th at such changes may be dependent on exercise intensity.