The effects of social interaction, exercise, and test stress on positive and negative affect

Abstract

The effects of social interaction, exercise, and test stress on positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) were investigated using the 20-item positive affect and negative affect schedule (PANAS). Eighteen undergraduate subjects completed a PANAS at the beginning of a 1-week period to establish baseline levels of PA and NA. Three other PANASs were completed within the week by each subject: one after social interaction, one after exercise, and one prior to a stressful test. The resulting PA and NA scores were compared with the baseline PA and NA scores obtained for each subject. Within-subjects analyses of variance and subsequent multiple comparison tests revealed that PA was increased significantly by social interaction and exercise, but not affected by test stress, and that NA was not affected by social interaction and exercise, but was increased significantly by test stress. The implications of these results are discussed.