Affective Valence and Enjoyment in High- and Moderate-High Intensity Interval Exercise. The Tromsø Exercise Enjoyment Study

A comparison of the acute effects of high intensity interval training and moderate intensity continuous training on working memory and emotional state in adolescent women with subthreshold depression

Objective

Various guidelines emphasize the cognitive and emotional benefits of physical activity. However, it is not yet clear what kind of exercise intensity is suitable for individuals with subthreshold depression. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effects of high intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate intensity continuous training (MICT) on the working memory and emotional state.

Methods

Forty-nine female students with subthreshold depression (mean age 16.3 ± 0.5 yrs) completed 20-min group of sit (SIT), MICT, and HIIT on separate days in a counterbalanced order. The modified n-back task was employed to evaluate working memory. Emotional state was assessed using the Feeling Scale (FS) and Felt Arousal Scale (FAS).

Results

Regarding working memory, for accuracy, SIT (82.41 ± 13.79%), MICT (81.79 ± 13.19%) and HIIT (82.06 ± 11.36%) have no significant difference (all p > 0.05). However, for reaction time, MICT (459.86 ± 131.47 ms) is significantly faster than HIIT (491.16 ± 115.68 ms) (p = 0.046), and there is no significant difference between MICT and SIT (462.71 ± 120.64 ms) (p > 0.05). Concerning emotional state, for arousal, FAS scores significantly increased after both HIIT (2.39 ± 1.30 to 3.76 ± 1.12, p < 0.001) and MICT (2.55 ± 0.88 to 3.94 ± 1.08, p < 0.001) compared to pre-exercise, and the increase caused by them was significantly higher than that of SIT (HIIT: p = 0.011; MICT: p < 0.01). For pleasure, the increase in FS score after MICT (-0.27 ± 1.13 to 1.06 ± 1.79) was significantly higher than that of SIT (0.32 ± 1.38 to 0.58 ± 1.53) (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Acute MICT can enhance working memory and improve the emotional state of adolescent women with subthreshold depression, while HIIT may decrease working memory and pleasure in this particular population.

Physiological and Psychological Differences Between 20% Grade Incline Walking and Level-Grade Jogging at Isocaloric Intensity

High-incline walking is a relatively new trend with little comparative information. This study compared physiological and psychological differences between high-incline walking at 20% grade (HIW) and level-grade jogging (LGJ) at isocaloric intensities in young adults. Twenty-two participants (M = 11, F = 11) aged 19-31 years completed the study. Participants completed HIW and LGJ on a treadmill for twenty minutes on two separate occasions and matched at isocaloric intensities. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE), maintainability (HCM), and affective valence using the Feeling Scale (FS) were measured at minutes 2, 10, and 20. Gas exchange and heart rate (HR) were continuously recorded. Post-exercise, participants completed the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) and 0-100 Likelihood scale. Relative oxygen uptake between LGJ and HIW (24.25 ± 3.53; 24.11 ± 3.63 mL/kg/min; p = .570, d = -.12), total calories (LGJ = 169.78 ± 35.80; HIW = 171.07 ± 35.09 kcal; p = .504), RER (LGJ = .86 ± .03; HIW = .88 ± .04; p = .137), and HR (LGJ = 146.28 ± 18.29; HIW = 143.94 ± 21.26 bpm; p = .146) was not different. LGJ (96.82 ± 15.76) had significantly higher total PACES (96.82 ± 15.76) and Likelihood scores (75.86 ± 18.30) than HIW (85.14 ± 15.08, p < .001; 65.09 ± 25.45, p = .032) respectively. RPE for both LGJ and HIW increased significantly with time (p < .001), but not between tests (p = .312). FS for LGJ and HIW increased significantly between tests (p = .008), but not between time (p = .083). At isocaloric intensities, young adults preferred and enjoyed LGJ relative to HIW.

Is There a Dose-Response Relationship between High-Intensity Interval Exercise (HIIE) Intensity and Affective Valence? Analysis of Three HIIE Sessions Performed with Different Amplitudes

The inverse relationship between exercise intensity and affective valence is well established for continuous exercise but not for high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE). The objective was to verify the dose-response relationship between exercise intensity and affective valence in HIIE sessions. Eleven young men underwent a vigorous-intensity continuous exercise (VICE) and three HIIE sessions at the same average intensity (70% of peak power-W_Peak) and duration (20 min) but with different amplitudes: 10 × [1 min at 90% W_Peak/1 min at 50% W_Peak]-HIIE-90/50; 10 × [1 min at 100% W_Peak/1 min at 40% W_Peak]-HIIE-100/40; 10 × [1 min at 110% W_Peak/1 min at 30% W_Peak]-HIIE-110/30. During the exercise sessions, psychophysiological variables were recorded (VO₂, VCO₂, heart rate, perceived exertion CR10, and Feeling Scale (FS)). Higher correlations were found between CR10 and FS for all conditions (VICE = -0.987; HIIE-90/50 = -0.873; HIIE-100/40 = -0.908; HIIE-110/30 = -0.948). Regarding the physiological variables, the %HR_Max presented moderate inverse correlations with FS for all exercise conditions (VICE = -0.867; HIIE-90/50 = -0.818; HIIE-100/40 = -0.837; HIIE-110/30 = -0.828) while the respiratory variables (%VO_2Peak and %VCO_2Peak) presented low-to-moderate correlations only for VICE, HIIE-90/50, and HIIE-100/40 (ranging from -0.523 to -0.805). Poor correlations were observed between the %VO_2Peak (r = -0.293) and %VCO_2Peak (r = -0.020) with FS. The results indicated that perceived exertion is more sensible than physiological variables to explain the intensity-affective valence relationship in HIIE sessions. RPE should be used for HIIE prescription with a focus on affect.

The Relationship between Self-Concept and Negative Emotion: A Moderated Mediation Model

Background: Emotional problems such as depression and anxiety are very serious among college students, especially during the COVID-2019 pandemic. The present study aimed to explore the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between self-concept and negative emotion, and the moderating role of exercise intensity in the direct and indirect effect of self-concept on negative emotion among college students. Methods: A total of 739 Chinese college students aged between 18 and 25 years (M = 20.13; SD = 1.67) were selected to complete the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TSCS), the Depression Anxiety Stress Self Rating Scale, the Adolescent Psychological Resilience Scale, and the Physical Exercise Scale (PARS-3) to assess self-concept, negative emotions, psychological resilience, and exercise intensity, respectively. Hayes' PROCESS macro for SPSS was used to test the relationships among these variables. Results: Self-concept was negatively correlated with negative emotions; psychological resilience partially mediated the association between self-concept and negative emotions; exercise intensity moderated the effect of self-concept on negative emotions, and college students with low intensity physical activity would strengthening the association between self-concept and psychological resilience, psychological resilience, and negative emotions. Conclusions: Psychological resilience is a critical mediating mechanism through which self-concept is associated with negative emotions among college students, and exercise intensity plays a role as a moderating variable in the direct and indirect influence of self-concept on negative emotions. Implications for preventing or reducing negative emotions are discussed.