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Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine 2/2008

01-04-2008 | Original Article

The Relationship Between Exercise Intensity and Affective Responses Demystified: To Crack the 40-Year-Old Nut, Replace the 40-Year-Old Nutcracker!

Authors: Panteleimon Ekkekakis, Eric E. Hall, Steven J. Petruzzello

Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 2/2008

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Abstract

Background

A causal chain linking exercise intensity, affective responses (e.g., pleasure–displeasure), and adherence has long been suspected as a contributor to the public health problem of physical inactivity. However, progress in the investigation of this model has been limited, mainly due to inconsistent findings on the first link between exercise intensity and affective responses.

Purpose

The purpose was to reexamine the intensity–affect relationship using a new methodological platform.

Methods

Thirty young adults (14 women and 16 men) participated in 15-min treadmill exercise sessions below, at, and above their ventilatory threshold. The innovative elements were the following: (a) Affect was assessed in terms of the dimensions of the circumplex model; (b) assessments were made repeatedly during and after exercise; (c) patterns of interindividual variability were examined; (d) intensity was determined in relation to the ventilatory threshold; and (e) hypotheses derived from the dual-mode model were tested.

Results

Intensity did not influence the positive changes from pre- to post-exercise, but it did influence the responses during exercise, with the intensity that exceeded the ventilatory threshold eliciting significant and relatively homogeneous decreases in pleasure.

Conclusions

Exceeding the intensity of the ventilatory threshold appears to reduce pleasure, an effect that could negatively impact adherence.
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Metadata
Title
The Relationship Between Exercise Intensity and Affective Responses Demystified: To Crack the 40-Year-Old Nut, Replace the 40-Year-Old Nutcracker!
Authors
Panteleimon Ekkekakis
Eric E. Hall
Steven J. Petruzzello
Publication date
01-04-2008
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Annals of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 2/2008
Print ISSN: 0883-6612
Electronic ISSN: 1532-4796
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-008-9025-z

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