Alterations in Exercise-Affect between Those With Higher and Lower Intensity Preference and Tolerance

Abstract

High-intensity exercise results in a more negative affective response when compared to moderate- or low-intensity exercise. However, a large number of individuals continue participating in high-intensity exercise, in spite of these declines in affective state. PURPOSE: Determine whether differences exist in exercise-affect for those with higher versus lower exercise intensity preference and/or tolerance. METHODS: Undergraduates (n=245, 20.3±1.7yrs, 23.7±3.8BMI, 60.8% female, 82% regular exercisers) completed the Preference for and Tolerance of Exercise Intensity Questionnaire [Higher-intensity exercise preference, tolerance (HIP, HIT) ≥24; n=155, n=154; lower-intensity preference, tolerance (LIP, LIT) <24; n=45, n=51] along with completing 15-minutes of a high-intensity circuit (HIC), a walk, and a reading condition. Affective valence (via Feeling Scale) was taken prior to, every 3-minutes during, and 20-minutes post (P20) condition, while activity enjoyment was assessed immediately post. RESULTS: Multivariate ANOVAs revealed significant differences (Ps<0.05) for preference-intensity groups in valence during HIC at minutes 3 (HIP=2.4, LIP=1.4; d=0.615), 6 (HIP=2.5, LIP=1.1; d=0.772), 9 (HIP=2.5, LIP=1.2; d=0.659), 12 (HIP=2.3, LIP=0.9; d=0.625), 15 (HIP=2.4, LIP=0.9; d=0.632), and at P20 (HIP=3.1, LIP=2.0; d=0.554), and for enjoyment following HIC (HIP=95.6, LIP=85.3; d=0.545), but not for walking or reading conditions. For those with differing intensity-tolerance levels, differences (Ps<0.05) in exercise-affect were only observed during minutes 3 (HIT=2.4, LIT=1.5; d=0.535) and 6 (HIT=2.3, LIT=1.7; d=0.366), and enjoyment differed following HIC (HIT=95.8, LIT=86.5; d=0.492). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest the intensity-preference trait influences how an individual feels during exercise at high-intensity intensity, but is less important during moderate/lower intensities. These differences may be predictive of whether an individual will continue high-intensity exercise programming.