ACUTE EXERCISE AND ANXIETY REDUCTION - DOES THE ENVIRONMENT MATTER

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.