Exercise Intensity Increases Mood States

Discussion

Does exercise at any intensity have positive mood effects? And, does the intensity of exercise have different effects on a person’s mood states? The standardized Profiles of Mood States (POMS) testing defines the six major mood states as vigor, anger, fatigue, confusion, anxiety, and depression, but this paper only addresses vigor, anxiety, and depression. These three mood states were selected because they appeared to be the most interesting in relationship to exercise. Our data was analyzed to determine trends in exercise relative to mood states and determine if the trends could provide answers to the questions. In addition to the data analysis, other studies were also researched to support or contradict the findings resulting from the data. The research data was provided in tables which compared mood state levels to the amount of exercise over time. The control group did not exercise but were given simple art tasks to occupy their time and provide a sense o accomplishment. The data resulting from the research was based on the POMS testing and in this paper all of the units for numerical values of mood states refer to the POMS test. The three levels of exercise intensity in the data are low-impact, aerobic dancing, and high-intensity. The analysis used data from the time interval of “pre-0test” to “week 25” which was identified as “t90.” The data in that interval results from the testing at pre- exercise to post-exercise which occurred 30 minutes after each workout. From this data three graphs were generated representing vigor, anxiety, and depression. The first graph shows changes in vigor in response to the three exercise intensities. The initial level of vigor and the control group began at 40.1. Low-impact exercise had the least effect, since the level of vigor only increased to 50, which was a change of 9.9. Aerobic dancing exercise increased the level of vigor to 57, which was a change of 16.9. High-intensity exercise increased the level of vigor the most, with a change to 65.2, which was a change of 25.1. The control group increased to 60, which was a change 19.9. This shows that there was a greater positive increased in mood with a greater increase in exercise. The second graph shows changes in anxiety in response to the three exercise intensities. The data for anxiety did not begin at the same values. The low-impact and aerobic dancing exercise intensities, and the control group began at 57. The high-intensity exercise began at 66.1. Low-impact exercise had the least effect and the level of anxiety only decreased to 45, which was a change of 12. Aerobic dancing exercise decreased the level of anxiety to 38.2, which was a change of 18.8. High-intensity exercise decreased the level of anxiety to 35, which was a change of 31.1. The control group also decreased to 35, which was a change of 12. This shows that there was a greater decreased in anxiety with a greater increase in exercise. The third graph shows changes in depression in response to the three exercise intensities. . . .

These three graphs show that there was a greater increase in vigor and a greater decrease in anxiety and depression with a greater increased in exercise. Other studies researched also support exercising as a means to increase vigor and reduce anxiety and depression. Berger’s research points out that an increase in physical exercise makes a person feel good about themselves which results in a positive mood. His data table shows that vigor increased and depression and anger decreased after exercise. The data in his study used a control group and two levels of exercise, one of which was yoga and the other was swimming. Kennedy hypothesized that high and low intensity exercise would lead to positive changes in mood. He states that the International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP) claims that exercise can have beneficial effects such as these across all ages for both sexes. However, ISSP also states that individuals must participate in vigorous exercise in order to obtain psychological benefits. In Kennedy’s study, a table shows that anger at low-intensity exercise was 0.90 at pre- exercise but was reduced to 0.30 in post-exercise. Anger at high intensity exercise was 2.68 at pre-exercise but reduced to 0.45 in post-exercise. Depression at low-intensity exercise was 1.68 at pre-exercise but was reduced to 1.15 in post-exercise. Vigor at low-intensity exercise was 7l.75 at pre-exercise and increased to 10.60 in post-exercise. Vigor at high-intensity exercise was 6l.55 at pre-exercise and increased to 10.00 in post-exercise. Kennedy’s research shows that exercise does improve mood at any exercise level. All negative mood states in his study, including tension, anxiety, depression, and fatigue, decreased while positive mood state increased. Kennedy’s conclusion from his hypothesis correlates with the findings from the graphed data that vigor increased while anxiety and depression decreased. Kennedy points out that exercise has been used as a treatment for depression and stress and that simple activities such as walking, swimming, aerobic dancing, cycling, and running have positive psychological benefits. Kennedy also points out that both low and high-intensity exercise can achieve similar benefits if the duration of exercise is appropriately adjusted.

Although the above-cited studies indicate that exercise at any level will increase mood state and support the results of the graphs derived from our research data, the Hughes study contradicts those findings. Hughes found minimal psychological benefits resulted from exercise. . . .