Behavioral activation or inhibition during emotional stress-implications for exercise habits and emotional problems among young females.

According to the defense-defeat model of stress, the defense reaction is associated with behavioral activation and the defeat reaction with behavioral inhibition. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of stress-induced changes of physical activity to certain psychological and behavioral problems among young females. A random sample of 726 females, aged 18-23 years, responded on a self-report questionnaire. Groups were defined by the given response on an item addressing changed levels of physical activity during periods of emotional stress. Groups of increased, decreased and unchanged drive to activity were compared regarding the results on various items. Subjects reporting stress-induced behavioral activation reported significantly higher amounts of habitual physical exercise and activity than did compared groups. They were also more prone to engage in compensatory activities against being overweight. Conversely, subjects reporting stress-induced behavioral inhibition during emotional stress reported more frequent depressive symptoms. Stress-induced changes of physical activity seem to be associated with certain patterns of emotional and behavioral problems among young females.