Abstract
Affect experienced during an exercise session is supposed to predict future exercise behavior. However, empirical evidence reveals high variability in affective response to different exercise modalities. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to compare acute affective response and its variation during three different endurance exercise modalities: (a) moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE), (b) vigorous-intensity continuous exercise (VICE), and (c) high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE). Using the dual-mode theory as a theoretical framework, cognitive and interoceptive factors were considered as potential predictors of in-task affective response. In a within-subject design, 40 insufficiently active healthy participants (aged from 20 to 40 years) attended three sessions per exercise modality on a cycle ergometer. Affective valence (measured by the Feeling Scale), two cognitive factors (perceived competence and awareness of interoceptive cues), and one interoceptive factor (heart rate) were assessed before, during, and after each exercise session. Mixed models with three levels (subject, exercise session, and time point) revealed more positive affective valence during MICE compared with VICE (p < 0.001) and HIIE (p < 0.01), while there was no significant difference between the latter two. Levene's test results showed the highest variability of in-task affective valence during VICE (ps < 0.01). Regarding the course across the session, MICE was associated with a constant slight increase in affective valence from pre- to post-exercise (p < 0.05), whereas VICE and HIIE caused a decline in pleasure, followed by an affective rebound immediately after exercise termination (ps < 0.01). The highest importance of cognitive and interoceptive factors for in-task affective valence was observed in VICE (ps < 0.05). The current findings provide support for the tenets of the dual-mode theory, however, indicating that there may be differences in the affect-intensity relationship between continuous and interval exercise. In conclusion, the study results concerning previously insufficiently active individuals extend the knowledge of how exercise can positively shape affective well-being depending on exercise modality and psychophysiological influences. This knowledge enables public health practitioners to design more individualized activity recommendations, thereby improving the subjective experience of exercise.
Highlights
In the context of theory-based interventions to enhance adoption and maintenance of exercise programs, affective response during an exercise session has been shown to predict future exercise behavior (Ekkekakis and Dafermos, 2012; Williams et al, 2012; Rhodes and Kates, 2015)
The manipulation check confirmed that participants were exercising at different intensities in the three exercise modalities based on mean in-task %HRmax, F(2,645) = 701.53, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.69, and %HRR, F(2,645) = 643.92, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.67
PC, perceived competence; AOI, awareness of interoceptive cues; HR, heart rate; x, interaction term; MICE, moderate-intensity continuous exercise; VICE, vigorous-intensity continuous exercise; HIIE, high-intensity interval exercise. aIn Model 1, we examined in-task (t1, t2) affective valence by including the levels subject, exercise session, and the crossed factor exercise modality (MICE, VICE, HIIE). bFor Model 3, we extended Model 1 by separately introducing the interaction term of one of three potential predictors (3a: PC, 3b: AOI, 3c: HR) with exercise modality (x exercise modality) as a fixed factor. *p < 0.05. **p < 0.01. ***p < 0.001 (Bonferroni adjusted)
Summary
In the context of theory-based interventions to enhance adoption and maintenance of exercise programs, affective response during an exercise session has been shown to predict future exercise behavior (Ekkekakis and Dafermos, 2012; Williams et al, 2012; Rhodes and Kates, 2015). Substantial interindividual response variability has been demonstrated (Ekkekakis et al, 2011) and exercise characteristics (e.g., intensity, modality) seem to have a decisive influence (Stork et al, 2017). Research has not sufficiently clarified which specific factors influence the affective response and its variability during various exercise modalities. The purpose of the present study was to investigate affective response during three endurance exercise modalities considering different exercise intensities among insufficiently active adults. Providing explanations for variability in individuals’ affective response will give insight into how exercise can be structured to achieve more positive affective states (i.e., how to make exercise more pleasant)
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