Curt L. Lox

Revisiting the Measurement of Exercise-Induced Feeling States: The Physical Activity Affect Scale (PAAS)

Interest in acute exercise-induced feeling states has intensified in recent years, signaling the need for development of domain-specific measures of these constructs. In response to this call, 2 exercise-specific measures of feeling states have been introduced-namely, the Exercise-Induced Feeling Inventory (EFI; Gauvin & Rejeski, 1993) and the Subjective Exercise Experiences Scale (SEES; McAuley & Courneya, 1994). Although certain subscales of the 2 instruments are unique, a number of similar constructs exist both within and between instruments. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to (a) combine the EFI and SEES scales into a single, more encompassing instrument and (b) investigate potential factor redundancy within and between the 2 instruments. Initial correlational analyses indicated that the Positive Well-Being subscale of the SEES and the revitalization and Positive Engagement subscales of the EFI were highly correlated. Similar results were obtained for the Fatigue (SEES) and Physical Exhaustion (EFI) subscales. These findings provided the impetus for the construction of the Physical Activity Affect Scale (PAAS), an instrument consisting of the Psychological Distress subscale of the SEES and the subscales of the EFI. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated support for 4 components of exercise-induced affect that were subsequently labeled positive affect, negative affect, fatigue, and tranquility. The PAAS appears to be an improvement over the EFI and SEES in that it is a more encompassing measure of exercise-induced feeling states with less component redundancy than its predecessors.

Evaluation of an aquatics programme on fitness parameters of individuals with a brain injury

The primary objective was to determine the effect of an aquatic exercise programme on the physical fitness of people with a brain injury. A pre-test–post-test randomized-groups design was conducted. Sixteen outpatients with a brain injury were included in the study. Eight participants were assigned to an aquatic exercise group and eight to a control group. The components of physical fitness measured included cardiovascular endurance, body composition, muscular strength and endurance and flexibility. Measurements were taken pre- and post-programme. Results indicated an increase in components of physical fitness for the experimental group but not the control group. Increases in fitness were reported as having a positive impact on the functional capacity of individuals in the exercise group as well as enhancing the individuals ability to complete activities of daily living successfully. Results indicate that aquatic exercise may positively impact the primary and secondary physical injuries caused by a brain injury.

Aquatics, health-promoting self-care behaviours and adults with brain injuries

Primary objective: To determine the effect of an aquatic programme on the health promoting behaviours of adults with brain injuries. Main outcomes and results: Eighteen individuals participated in the programme and were randomly assigned to an experimental (n = 9) or control group (n = 9). Health promoting behaviours, physical self-concept and self-esteem were measured pre- and post-intervention. Significant differences and large effect sizes were found between scores for the experimental group only, indicating an increase in health promoting behaviours, physical self-concept and self-esteem. Conclusions: Results have useful implications for health professionals as exercise prescription may enhance health promoting behaviours and decrease health care costs after a brain injury.

Physical and psychological predictors of exercise dosage in healthy adults.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine the exercise dose-response issue in a sample of 121 regular exercisers categorized as relatively low, moderate, or high dosage physical activity participants. METHODS Male and female students, faculty, and staff of a midwestern university, currently engaging in various exercise modalities at least two times per week, were assessed on a variety of factors hypothesized to impact ones degree of exercise involvement. RESULTS ANOVA procedures indicated that low and high dosage groups differed significantly on the variables of age, exercise history, positive affect, and the locus of causality and stability attributional dimensions. Groups did not differ significantly in terms of body mass index, exercise efficacy, perceptions of either personal or external control over exercise behavior, or negative affective reactions to exercise behavior. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, the findings of this study suggest that individuals who exercise at varying doses of physical activity may be differentiated by certain demographic, behavioral, physiological, and psychological variables.

RELATION BETWEEN SPORTS CONTEXT, COMPETITIVE TRAIT ANXIETY, PERCEIVED ABILITY, AND SELF-PRESENTATION CONFIDENCE

This study examined the relations among athletic context, i.e., team-sport versus individual-sport, competitive trait anxiety, perceived ability, and self-presentation confidence for 62 men and 34 women athletes. The analyses showed that the athletic context is associated with variations in competitive trait anxiety and self-presentation confidence; however, no main effect or interaction was noted for perceived ability. Results support the notion that aspects of the sports context are significantly related to various precompetitive cognitions.

PERCEIVED THREAT AS A COGNITIVE COMPONENT OF STATE ANXIETY AND CONFIDENCE

This study was designed to test propositions from the 1990 competitive anxiety model proposed by Martens, Vealey, and Burton. Specifically, the relationships among perceived threat and state responses of anxiety, confidence, and efficacy were examined to assess whether perceived threat might explain anxiety and confidence in 52 intercollegiate female volleyball players. Somatic anxiety was significantly correlated with perception of importance of both outcome and personal performance while uncertainty regarding personal performance was significantly related to cognitive anxiety. In addition, perceived threat was significantly related to state self-confidence and self-efficacy.

Self-Efficacy and Intrinsic Motivation in Exercising Middle-Aged Adults

The present study examined the relationships between perceptions of personal capabilities and intrinsic interest for exercise participation. In the context of formerly sedentary middle-aged adults enrolled in a program of aerobic exercise, the role played by multidimensional intrinsic interest for exercise in the generation of self-efficacy when statistically controlling for initial efficacy, physiological status, and previous exercise behavior was determined. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that the dimensions of perceived competence and effort contributed significant unique variance to subsequent self-efficacy. The results are discussed in terms of how sources of efficacy enhancing information might be manipulated in the exercise environment to best facilitate perceptions of personal capabilities for exercise in older males and females.

SELF-ESTEEM AND COPING RESPONSES OF ATHLETES WITH ACUTE VERSUS CHRONIC INJURIES

6 athletes with acute and 6 with chronic injuries reported differences in measures of self-esteem and coping strategies following sport-related injury.

Physical Training Effects on Acute Exercise-induced Feeling States in HIV- 1-positive Individuals

Each year, more than one million new AIDS cases are reported worldwide, signaling an immediate need for intervention strategies to combat the physical, immunological, and psychological/emotional complications associated with the disease. In an effort to address this issue, our study contrasted an aerobic exercise intervention with a resistance weight-training intervention for a period of 12 weeks. Each week, participants seropositive for HIV-1 completed a short survey concerning their positive and negative feeling states and perceptions of fatigue immediately following exercise. Results indicated that participants in both exercise groups experienced significantly greater levels of positive well being and significantly lower levels of psychological distress and perceptions of fatigue following exercise sessions engaged in during the final week as compared to sessions engaged in during the initial week.

An investigation of the relation between religion and exercise motivation.

The present study sought to investigate whether traditional secular or faith-based program factors were more responsible for motivating women (N = 220, M age = 44.6 yr.) to participate in Christian exercise programs. Based on the results of a pilot study, the Christian Exercise Program Questionnaire was developed and mailed to the study participants. The internal reliability of the questionnaire was excellent as indicated by Cronbach coefficient alpha. As expected, those aspects of the exercise program that were faith-based, e.g., modest clothing, noncompetitive, and worshipful atmosphere, were considered more important than traditional secular factors, e.g., personal trainers and childcare, in the decision to enroll in the program (t219 = 9.23, p < .001). The findings suggest exercise programs that incorporate faith-based practices may appeal to a segment of the population and provide an alternative strategy for improving participation rates in physical activity.