Physiological and psychological effects of training

Abstract

The objectives of our experiment were (1) to compare the effectiveness of individual and gymnasium-type exercise programs, and (2) to identify characteristics of the exercise “drop-out.” Sedentary middle-aged men participated in a 28-week course of regular exercise, based on either the popular paper-back “Aerobics” or a “low-gear” fitness class at the Y.M.C.A. Detailed physiological assessments were made at the beginning, the mid-point, and the end of the study; psychological assessments were also made at the beginning and end of the investigation. Both regimes produced statistically similar increases of predicted aerobic power (14%, 10%, respectively), but the gymnasium program yielded a larger increase of leg extension strength (respective changes 3% and 13%) and an insignificantly greater decrease of skinfold thickness (respective changes 9% and 14%). The formal activities of the Y.M.C.A. also produced significantly greater changes of extroversion (Maudsley Personality Inventory), mood (McPherson scale) and attitude towards sports (Kenyon's component vii) than did participation in the individual exercise program. Most of the “drop-outs” were enrolled in the individual program. They were overweight and stronger than continuing participants, and were also more likely to smoke and to have an extraverted personality.