Exercise intensity and self-efficacy effects on anxiety reduction in healthy, older adults

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of varying exer cise intensities and changes in self-efficacy on anxiety reduction in a sam ple of healthy, older adults. Eighty older adults from a randomized control led exercise trial participated in this study and completed measures of sel f-efficacy and the State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) prior to and following lig ht-, moderate-, and high-intensity exercise. Latent growth curve modeling a nalyses revealed that although anxiety was reduced following the light-inte nsity condition, no significant changes in anxiety occurred following the m oderate-intensity condition, and anxiety increased following the high-inten sity condition. In addition, changes in self-efficacy were related to anxie ty responses only in the moderate-intensity condition. An analysis of SAI i tems indicated that although the Eight-intensity condition resulted in decr eased arousal and anxiousness, the high-intensity condition resulted in inc reased arousal and decreased anxiousness. These results are discussed in te rms of social cognitive theory and the appropriateness of the SAI for use i n exercise settings.