EFFECTS OF AEROBIC AND NONAEROBIC EXERCISE ON ANXIETY, ABSENTEEISM, AND JOB-SATISFACTION

The effects of aerobic and nonaerobic exercise on employee state and t rait anxiety levels, absenteeism, job satisfaction, and resting heart rate were investigated within a worksite setting. Results indicated th at aerobic subjects significantly reduced their state anxiety levels o ver a single exercise session. Post-exercise state anxiety decreased o ver the 8 weeks for both groups. Aerobic subjects who were not previou s exercisers decreased their trait anxiety. No changes in job satisfac tion, absenteeism, or resting heart rate were evident. These results s upport past findings that concluded that aerobic exercise is superior to nonaerobic exercise for anxiety reduction. Tentative evidence was f ound to oppose the hypothesis that cardiovascular conditioning is the mechanism responsible for the psychological benefits because no signif icant cardiovascular changes occurred.