Influence of quiet rest and acute aerobic exercise performed in a naturalistic environment on selected psychological responses

The primary purpose of the present study was to examine psychological respo nses of 50 young women following single episodes of aerobic exercise (AE) p erformed in a naturalistic exercise setting and quiet rest (QR). Given the salience of self-presentational qualities in a naturalistic exercise settin g, a secondary purpose was to examine whether psychological responses to ac ute exercise varied as a function of social physique anxiety (SPA). The dep endent measures of state anxiety, positive engagement, revitalization, tran quility, and physical exhaustion were assessed immediately prior to and the n at 5 and 30 minutes following each condition. It was found that (a) AE an d QR were associated with decreases in state anxiety and increases in tranq uility; (b) AE was associated with increases in positive engagement and rev italization; and (c) these changes did not vary as a function of SPA level.