A BRIEF REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND EXAMINATION OF ACUTE MOOD BENEFITS OF EXERCISE IN CZECHOSLOVAKIAN AND UNITED-STATES SWIMMERS

This study briefly reviewed the exercise and mental health literature and then examined the influence of national differences on the acute m ood benefits of swimming. Women college student (N = 70) from Czechosl ovakia and the United States who were enrolled in swimming and lecture -control classes completed the Profile of Mood States before and after class on three occasions. Results of a 4-way MANOVA confirmed that, a s predicted, swimmers in each of the two countries reported acute mood benefits and that there were national differences in the extent of th e changes. In comparison with their respective controls, Czechoslovaki an swimmers reported greater mood changes than the U.S. swimmers; diff erences between the two control groups contributed greatly to these in teractions. Analyses of only the swimmers' scores indicated that Czech oslovakian and U.S. swimmers reported mood improvement on Tension, Dep ression, Anger, Vigor, and Confusion. Results supported the possibilit y that swimming is associated with mood benefits and that the effects occur across cultures.