Contributions of acute bouts of vigorous physical activity to explaining diurnal variations in feeling states in active, middle-aged women

This study describes diurnal variations in feeling states in 84 women as a function of involvement in physical activity. Women completed feeling state checklists before and after bouts of vigorous physical activity that laste d a minimum of 20 min and on a stratified random-sampling protocol in respo nse to a stimulus from an electronic pager. Participants self-reported the date, the time of day, the stimulus for responding, their current feeling s tates, and their ongoing activity. A total of 7,295 complete mood and activ ity reports were recorded in response to pager calls that were further code d into experience samplings that occurred on a nonexercise day, prior to ex ercise on an exercise day, and following exercise on an exercise day. Multi level modeling analyses showed that in samplings recorded following exercis e on exercise days, positive engagement, revitalization, and tranquility we re elevated in comparison with predicted diurnal patterns.