E. Mcauley et al., ACUTE EXERCISE AND ANXIETY REDUCTION - DOES THE ENVIRONMENT MATTER, Journal of sport & exercise psychology, 18(4), 1996, pp. 408-419
This study was designed to examine whether the exercise environment af
fected individuals' anxiety responses. Participants either sat quietly
(control) or exercised in either a laboratory or a setting of their o
wn choosing. State anxiety measures were assessed at baseline, during
activity, and following 15 minutes of rest after activity. Analyses in
dicated that the exercising conditions significantly reduced anxiety,
whereas the control condition did not. Additional analyses indicated t
hat anxiety increased from baseline during exercise and then was reduc
ed upon exercise cessation. The implications of these findings for the
examination of acute exercise effects on psychological function are d
iscussed.