The Effect of Moderate Intensity Aerobic Exercise on Affect and Exercise Intention in Active and Inactive College Students.

Physical activity has long been established as an essential behavior for vital physical and psychosocial health outcomes (16, 18), but lack of physical activity is still a rampant problem worldwide (7). Numerous factors influence physical activity participation, including affect, a measure of well-being. Research has found that affect increases following an exercise session, though some recent studies have discovered that affect tends to be lower when measured during exercise (14). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the differences in affect between active and inactive college students during exercise. A total of 72 participants cycled for 30 minutes at 65-75% of their age-predicted maximal heart rate and completed the previously validated positive and negative affect scale (PANAS; 24) near the end of the exercise bout. Following the exercise session, participants completed measures to assess future exercise intention. No significant difference was found in affect between active and inactive individuals, suggesting that affect during exercise may not be a deterrent to physical activity as previously thought. However, a significant gender difference was present in positive affect. Namely, males reported experiencing higher levels of positive affect than females during the exercise bout, which may indicate that the males enjoyed the exercise more than females. Given these gender discrepancies, practitioners may need to consider using different training techniques or interventions for males and females.