Tense Arousal Research Articles

Energetic and Tense Arousal as Drivers of Willingness to Buy: Mediating Effects of Visual Attention

ABSTRACTThis research aims to analyze the effects of orthogonal arousal systems (energetic vs. tense) on willingness to buy. We conducted two experimental studies using eye‐tracking technologies. This article introduces the measurement of arousal effects through visual cognitive processing. This approach demonstrates that energetic and tense arousal interferes with the gaze‐cascade impact differently. The results indicate that energetic arousal generates a higher willingness to buy than tense arousal. Furthermore, the relationship between arousal and willingness to buy is mediated by shelf attention and visual product comparison. This study is significant for scholars and marketers as it demonstrates that consumers with high levels of energetic arousal can process more information and compare different products than consumers with high levels of tense arousal.

Evaluating the relaxation effects of Shikuwasa (Citrus depressa Hayata) essential oil inhalation in young female adults: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

IntroductionThe essential oil of Shikuwasa (Citrus depressa Hayata) primarily contains limonene and γ-terpinene, which have potential applications in stress management and relaxation. However, the psychological or physiological relaxation effects of Shikuwasa essential oil on humans are still unknown. This study aims to investigate the short-term relaxation effects of Shikuwasa essential oil, one of the less-studied varieties, compared to inhaling odour-free air in young female adults. Methodsand analysis: This study is a two-arm, parallel-group, open-label, randomised controlled superiority trial. Forty young female adults will be assigned with a 1:1 allocation ratio to either the Shikuwasa essential oil inhalation group or the odour-free air inhalation group. The primary outcome measure will be subjective tense arousal (subscale of the Japanese version of the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology Mood Adjective Checklist). Secondary outcomes include objective measures: miosis rate and peripheral skin temperature for evaluating autonomic nervous activity, and cerebral blood flow (assessed using near-infrared spectroscopy) for evaluating central nervous activity. Since these objective outcome measures cannot be performed at the same time, we divide our experiment into three phases and participants will inhale sample vials for 2 min in each experiment. We will also evaluate individual preferences/impressions regarding inhaled samples and any adverse events. Ethics and disseminationThe study protocol has been reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki (reference no: I-0074). The findings of this study will be disseminated to academic and professional audiences via publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at academic conferences, and to the broader public via public talks and media/press releases. All study findings, whether negative or positive, will be reported. Trial registrationUMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR), UMIN000053914. Prospectively registered on March 20, 2024.

Perceived air pollution reduces consumers' self‐disclosure: The role of tense arousal

AbstractConsumers are often reluctant to disclose their personal information to retailers. How to promote consumers' self‐disclosure has been a focal point of interest for marketers and researchers. Using a total of eight multimethod studies (N = 5281) which composite a study with secondary data, a field study, a natural experiment, and five lab experiments, we show that a perception of high (vs. low) levels of air pollution decreases consumers' self‐disclosure willingness and behavior. This effect is mediated by tense arousal and moderated by (1) whether consumers are aware of the impact of perceived air pollution levels on tense arousal and (2) under which environment consumers disclose their personal information (an environment playing low‐paced soothing background music vs. a one playing high‐paced rock background music). We also rule out regulatory focus and mood valence as alternative process variables. Our findings extend past literature on perceived air pollution, tense arousal, and self‐disclosure. The results also suggest marketers, retailers, and service providers mitigate the negative impact of air pollution perception on consumers' self‐disclosure by playing low‐paced soothing background music in retailing contexts.

Vigilance to Painful Laser Stimuli is Associated with Increased State Anxiety and Tense Arousal.

Pain is frequently accompanied by enhanced arousal and hypervigilance to painful sensations. Here, we describe our findings in an experimental vigilance task requiring healthy participants to indicate when randomly timed moderately painful stimuli occur in a long train of mildly painful stimuli. During a continuous performance task with painful laser stimuli (CPTpain), 18 participants rated pain intensity, unpleasantness, and salience. We tested for a vigilance decrement over time using classical metrics including correct targets (hits), incorrectly identified non-targets (false alarms), hit reaction time, and false alarm reaction time. We measured state anxiety and tense arousal before and after the task. We found a vigilance decrement across four 12.5-minute blocks of painful laser stimuli in hits [F3,51=2.91; p=0.043; time block 1>block 4 (t=2.77; p=0.035)]. Both self-report state anxiety (tpaired,17=3.34; p=0.0039) and tense arousal (tpaired,17=3.20; p=0.0053) increased after the task. We found a vigilance decrement during our laser pain vigilance task consistent with vigilance decrements found in other stimulus modalities. Furthermore, state anxiety positively correlated with tense arousal. CPTpain acutely increased tense arousal and state anxiety, consistent with previous results implicating the reciprocal interaction of state anxiety and acute painful sensations and the role of pain in augmenting tense arousal. These results may indicate a psychological process which predisposes the hypervigilant to developing greater acute pain, resulting in positive feedback, greater pain and anxiety.

P16: Report on a Dementia Prevention Workshop Organized through Multidiscipline Intervention: An Examination of Intervention Approach through the Evaluation of Group Reminiscence Method and Mental Aspect

Objective:This is a report of a workshop for local residents organized by university researchers in various fields with the aim to develop a dementia prevention method. The five academic fields involved in the project are Health & Sports, Psychology, Food Nutrition, Music, and Nursing.Methods:Dementia Prevention Workshop took place once a week between October 2021 and July 2022 except for some intervals due to surges in Covid-19 infection cases. Dual task exercises were conducted at each session, followed by groupworks by researchers of Psychology, Nutrition, Music, and Nursing Science taking turns. Psychologists facilitated the understanding of assertion, nutritionists held lectures on food life designed for dementia prevention, musicians played instruments, and nurses intervened through the Group Reminiscence Method. The Nursing Science experts conducted evaluations at the beginning and the end of each session using SF-36 and CES-D and checked the participants’ mood before and after the reminiscence session with Japanese UWIST mood adjective checklist (JUMACL).Results:16 participants took the measurement after the workshop, and their average age (SD) was 72.9 (5.5). In the overall evaluation, the participants’ motor ability improved(p<.05), and they retained cognitive functions. In SF-36, no statistically significant differences were observed before and after the classroom. Compared to the data from 2017, the scores in the social aspect were lower. In CES-D, the scores significantly worsened after the workshop, with some participants’ scores exceeding 16 points, which is the depression cutoff point. In JUMACL, the Tense Arousal (TA) related to the arousal state and the Energetic Arousal (EA), which is supposedly related to intellectual activities, both improved after the session.Conclusion:In a single evaluation before and after a group reminiscence session, the state of relaxed concentration with a suggested connection with intellectual activities, but the overall evaluation result throughout the workshop project suggested the need to reinforce the approach to the mental aspect because of some participants observed with decreased scores in the mental aspects with depressive tendency. We will establish an intervention plan by also incorporating the impact of Covid-19-related depression.

Associations between type and timing of sedentary behaviour and affect in adolescents: An ecological momentary assessment study

BackgroundThere is limited evidence on the associations between type and timing of different sedentary behaviour with affect in adolescents. This study aimed to investigate within-person associations between different types of sedentary behaviour with core affect among a sample of Australian adolescents and explore if the association differs across different times of the day. MethodsUsing ecological momentary assessment, 119 participants (Mage = 14.7 years, 54% male) self-reported engagement in different types of sedentary behaviour, as well as providing information on their affective states multiple times each day, over a four-day period. Data were analysed using multi-level and time-varying effects models. ResultsPlaying video games and having a meal on the weekend was favourably associated with valence and tense arousal. Watching TV or a movie on the weekend was associated with lower tense arousal but also lower energetic arousal. Using social media and reading or doing homework on the weekend were also negatively associated with energetic arousal. Reading or doing homework and using social media on a weekday afternoon were inversely associated with valence. Playing video games using social media and reading or doing homework were inversely associated with energetic arousal on weekdays. Results from the time-varying effects models demonstrated that the magnitude of these effects may differ depending upon the time of the day that the sedentary behaviour occurs. ConclusionsThe type, and to a lesser extent, the timing of sedentary behaviours are differently associated with affect in adolescents. These results may provide unique insights into why some types of sedentary behaviours are related to worse mental health and wellbeing and others are not.

A conditional process model of perfectionism, goal-realization, and post-competition mood

Research has recently begun to examine the relationship between multidimensional perfectionism and athletes’ post-competition mood. However, to date, there have been few attempts to examine the interaction between dimensions of perfectionism or model possible explanatory processes. To address these limitations, in the current study we tested a novel conditional process model whereby the relationship between perfectionistic strivings and post-competition affect was mediated by the degree to which goals were considered to have been met (goal-realization) and that this indirect effect was, in turn, moderated by levels of perfectionistic concerns. We tested this model in a sample of 251 athletes who took part in a “Runmageddon” event - a cross-country obstacle race. Athletes completed measures of perfectionism (perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns) before the race and measures of goal-realization and mood (tense arousal, energetic arousal, and hedonic tone) between 24 and 48 h after the race. Analyses revealed that perfectionistic strivings were indirectly linked to a more unpleasant post-competition mood (higher tense arousal and lower hedonic tone) via perceptions of lower goal-realization. In addition, these two indirect effects were statistically significant only when perfectionistic concerns were medium and high. The results support the proposed conditional model and suggest the interplay between dimensions of perfectionism is important for athletes’ post-competition mood, and the level of perfectionistic concerns, especially.

The Impact of Nursing Handover on Nurses’ Mood

Objective: To estimate the impact of nursing handover on nurses’ mood after the end of the nursing shift report. Methods: A cross-sectional, repeated-measures design study involving a diary questionnaire was conducted during November - December 2019. Data were collected from 125 nurses working in a public hospital in Northern Greece. 375 diaries were returned. Mood change was measured using the UWIST Mood Adjective Checklist instrument that describes three mood factors (Hedonic Tone, Tense Arousal and Energetic Arousal). Results: A significant change in nurses’ mood before and after the nursing handover was reported and more specifically, an increase in positive and a decrease in negative mood state was observed. A change in all mood groups - Hedonic Tone, Tense Arousal and Energetic Arousal was also identified. Nurses with many years of experience who work in internal medicine, increased their Hedonic Tone (P=0.001) and decreased their Tense Arousal (P=0.005). Conclusion: The benefits of nursing handover are long established and is suggested as the most appropriate period of time for nurses to achieve emotional change before leaving from work. Nurses are advised to use the nursing handover as an opportunity to psychologically disengage from work and increase their positive mood.

Strength of excitation and insomnia as mediated by mood dimensions.

The main goal of our study was to demonstrate the relationship between the strength of excitation (SE) as one of the basic central nervous system (CNS) properties and insomnia, and to determine the role of the mood components as mediators of this relationship. We hypothesized that SE directly and indirectly via arousal-related mood dimensions may be related to insomnia. The study involved 149 people, 85 women and 64 men, aged 18 to 60 (M = 30.11, SD = 11.43) selected from the general population using snowball sampling. The basic properties of the CNS were diagnosed using Pavlovian Temperament Survey. Mood was assessed using the Polish adaptation of UWIST Mood Adjective Checklist. To evaluate insomnia symptoms Athens Insomnia Scale in its Polish adaptation was used. SE negatively correlated with insomnia (no significant correlations between strength of inhibition and mobility and insomnia). All CNS properties positively correlated with hedonic tone (HT) and energetic arousal (EA), and negatively with tense arousal (TA) as mood dimensions. HT and EA were negatively correlated with insomnia but TA positively correlated with insomnia. Both EA and TA served as mediators in the relationship between SE and insomnia. The results indicated the relationship between SE and insomnia as well as between SE and EA and TA as mood dimensions related to arousal. Mediation analysis suggests that both EA and TA may serve as mediators of the relationship between SE and insomnia. However, the results of the mediation analysis require careful interpretation.

Workplace Stress in Real Time

Abstract: Experience sampling methods are increasingly used in workplace stress assessment, yet rarely developed and validated following the available best practices. Here, we developed and evaluated parsimonious measures of momentary stressors (Task Demand and Task Control) and the Italian adaptation of the Multidimensional Mood Questionnaire as an indicator of momentary strain (Negative Valence, Tense Arousal, and Fatigue). Data from 139 full-time office workers that received seven experience sampling questionnaires per day over 3 workdays suggested satisfactory validity (including weak invariance cross-level isomorphism), level-specific reliability, and sensitivity to change. The scales also showed substantial correlations with retrospective measures of the corresponding or similar constructs and a degree of sensitivity to work sampling categories (type and mean of job task, people involved). Opportunities and recommendations for the investigation and the routine assessment of workplace stress are discussed.

Polish University students’ mood changes during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic; relationships with gender, academic variables and coping

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of the study was to determine potential mood changes reported by Polish undergraduates during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and how mood may be differ, according to gender, field and year of study. Differences in coping strategies depending on mood changes were also Investigated. Method: The study involved 1330 students (767 women and 563 men) aged 18–30 years studying various faculties at the Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Poland. A modified version of the the Coping Orientations to Problem Experienced University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology Mood Adjective Check List UMACL was used to identify mood changes, and brief version of the Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced COPE was used to identify the coping strategies employed. Results: A decrease in hedonic tone and energetic arousal and an increase in tense arousal was reported during the pandemic, with a deterioration in students’ mood. Mood deterioration was lower in male students and sport and physical education students. Students who reported mood improvement were most likely to use positive reframing, acceptance, active coping, humour, and physical activity. Students with deteriorated mood used self-blaming, venting, denial, behavioural disengagement, and doing something else most frequently. Discussion: Female students, those studying physiotherapy, tourism and recreation, and other majors (nursing, occupational therapy, cosmetology), and first-year master's students are more likely to report negative psychological impact during the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of emotional and avoidance coping strategies may increase the affective cost of pandemic stress.

On the Influence of Shot Scale on Film Mood and Narrative Engagement in Film Viewers

The perceived distance of the camera from the subject of a filmed scene, namely <i>shot scale</i>, is a prominent formal feature of any filmic product, endowed with both stylistic and narrative functions. To measure how shot scale affects both lower and higher complexity responses in viewers, we first investigate how the distribution and rotation of Close, Medium, and Long Shots relate to viewers&#x2019; rating on <i>film mood</i>, assessed in terms of hedonic tone, energetic arousal, and tense arousal on an extensive set of 50 film clips. Then we examine the effect of shot scale on viewers of violent scenes in terms of <i>narrative engagement</i> and its sub-scales: narrative understanding, attentional focus, emotional engagement, and narrative presence. To enable such analysis, shot scale classification is automatized by means of Convolutional Neural Networks trained on the filmographies by six directors for a total of 120 full-length movies analysed at one frame per second. Based on large corpora, this study provides methods for further investigating the relationship between shot scale and the viewers&#x2019; emotional involvement. Beyond stylistic analysis, gaining valuable insight into the mechanism of narrative effects of film stories could be useful for purposes such as movie recommendation and film therapy.

Predictors of Positive and Negative Emotions Experienced by Poles during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The objective of the research was to specify the predictors of positive and negative emotions experienced by Poles during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers used the following standardized measurement tools: emotions (PANAS), mood (UMACL), satisfaction with life (SWLS), optimism (LOT-R), and coping with stress (CISS). They also used a questionnaire to collect sociodemographic information and data concerning COVID-19 infections. In total, 595 participants (80.50% women) aged 18–75 participated in the research. It was concluded that the predictors of positive emotions included a task-oriented coping style, level of satisfaction with life, being a man, hedonic tone in the description of mood, and being an employed student. The negative predictors of positive emotions included emotion-oriented coping and the level of energetic arousal in the description of mood. The predictors of negative emotions were tense arousal in the description of mood, emotion-oriented coping, being over 60 years of age, and changes in respondents’ standard of living. The negative predictors of negative emotions included living in a medium-sized town or in a village. The research conclusions encourage us to pay special attention to possible at-risk groups threatened with mental health disorders and to factors that protect people against negative psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Perfectionism Moderates the Effects of Goal-Realization on Post-Competition Mood in Amateur Runners

Perfectionism impacts how athletes evaluate their performance. However, little is known about how perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns interplay with athletes’ anticipated and actual performance in predicting mood after the competition. Thus, we conducted a study with amateur runners [n = 152, (72 female, 80 male); Mean±SD age = 34.71 ± 9.57] taking part in a competitive 10-kilometer street run. Perfectionism was measured before the run, while the measurement of mood was taken during the post-competition week. Mood was operationalized in the 3D model of mood, distinguishing between energetic arousal, tense arousal, and hedonic tone. Regression analysis showed that specific patterns of associations between perfectionism and goal-realization explain 17-21% of variance in the dimensions of mood. Higher pleasure after the run was predicted by lower perfectionistic concerns and better conversion of anticipated performance into actual performance. In predicting energy and tension, moderating effects of perfectionistic strivings, perfectionistic concerns, and conversion rate were observed. Johnson-Neyman technique revealed that only athletes low in perfectionistic concerns were able to benefit from lower tension when they met or exceeded their goals for the run. The higher athletes’ perfectionistic strivings and conversion rate the more pronounced effects we observed for affect-energization. Results support the idea of perfectionistic reactivity, where the negative consequences of perfectionism can be observed in a lack of positive reactions to positive events. We also suggest that such a response to meeting or exceeding one’s goal may contribute to the development of athlete burnout and hinder the development athlete engagement.

Domain specific association between physical activity and affect in adolescents’ daily lives: an ecological momentary assessment study

Objective Little is known about the domain specific associations between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and affect. This study aimed to determine whether the association between MVPA and affect differed by domain in adolescents. Design Overall, 119 adolescents (mean age = 14.7 years) provided information about their affective states multiple times a day over a four-day period using ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Additionally, minutes of MVPA were measured using accelerometers and participants self-reported whether they were participating in recreational physical activity, active travel, or household physical activity at the time of an EMA prompt. Main Outcome Measures The main outcomes that were measured were affective valence, energetic arousal and tense arousal. Results Participants who engaged in more recreational MVPA on average reported more positive valence, more energetic arousal, and less tense arousal. Additionally, participants reported more energetic arousal when they participated in greater levels of recreational MVPA than usual, but also more tense arousal. Active travel and household physical activity were not associated with valence, energetic arousal or tense arousal. Conclusion These findings highlight the importance of encouraging participation in recreational physical activities to promote positive affective outcomes.

Contextual influences on the within-person association between physical activity and affect in adolescents: an ecological momentary assessment study.

There is limited research on how the context in which moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) occurs influences the relationship between physical activity and affect. This study aimed to investigate how the social context and physical environment enhance the relationship between MVPA and affect in daily life. Overall, 119 adolescents (mean age = 14.7years) provided information about their core affect, physical environment and social context on multiple occasions over a 4-day period using ecological momentary assessment. Additionally, participants' level of MVPA was objectively measured using accelerometers. Level of MVPA was positively associated with energetic arousal, being outdoors was positively associated with valence and energetic arousal, and being with someone else was also positively associated with energetic arousal. Additionally, being outdoors moderated the association between MVPA and tense arousal so that MVPA was only inversely related to tense arousal when outdoors. These findings showed that young people experience more positive valence, greater levels of energetic arousal and less tense arousal when physically active outdoors compared to when indoors and highlight the importance of encouraging young people to participate in physical activity outdoors. Further research is warranted to understand how social contexts may influence the association between MVPA and affect in young people.

Self-esteem instability and affective instability in everyday life after remission from borderline personality disorder

BackgroundBorderline personality disorder (BPD) is defined by a pervasive pattern of instability. According to prior findings and clinical theories, self-esteem instability and affective instability are key features of BPD. Previous e-diary studies showed that instability in self-esteem is heightened and that it is highly intertwined with affective instability in BPD in comparison to healthy controls (HC). The present study sought to extend these findings by adding symptomatologically remitted BPD patients (BPD-REM), i.e. former patients with BPD who met four or fewer BPD criteria within the past year, as a comparison group.MethodsTo examine differences regarding self-esteem instability and affective instability, we used e-diaries for repeatedly collecting data on self-esteem, valence, and tense arousal 12 times a day for four consecutive days while participants underwent their daily life activities. Determining three different state-of-the-art instability indices and applying multilevel analyses, we compared 35 BPD-REM participants with previously reported 60 acute BPD patients (BPD-ACU) and 60 HC.ResultsOur results revealed that self-esteem instability was significantly lower in the BPD-REM compared to the BPD-ACU group, irrespective of the instability index. In contrast, there were no significant differences regarding affective instability between the BPD-REM participants and those in the BPD-ACU group. The comparison between the BPD-REM with the HC indicated both a significantly higher instability in self-esteem as well as significantly heightened affective instability in the BPD-REM participants. Moreover, even though the associations were not significant, we found tentative support for the assumption that affective changes that are accompanied by changes in self-esteem are experienced as more burdensome and negatively impact the quality of life of remitted BPD participants.ConclusionsThis study builds on growing evidence for the importance of self-esteem instability in BPD. Whereas affective instability has been reported in various psychiatric disorders and might indeed constitute a transdiagnostic marker of affective dysregulation, our results indicate that self-esteem instability might be a specific symptom that construes the unique pathology in BPD.

Changes of Mood and Cognitive Performance before and after a 100 km Nighttime Ultramarathon Run.

Ultramarathons are becoming an increasingly popular endurance sport. Year after year, the demands on athletes’ skills and endurance increase. Ultramarathons are particularly taxing on athletes’ psychological functioning. This study assessed the relationships between taking part in a nighttime ultramarathon and changes in mood and cognitive functioning. The study included 20 experienced runners aged 26–57 (M = 37.29; SD = 7.94) who had M = 7.08, SD = 5.41 (range 3–44) years of experience running. There were 18 men and 2 women. The mood states were measured twice, just before the start of the run and shortly after crossing the finish line, using the Polish version of the UMACL UWIST Mood Adjective Checklist by Mathews, Chamberlain, and Jones. To assess cognitive functioning, the Stroop Color and Word Test and “Forward digit span” subtest from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale were used. We observed statistically significant changes in the mood of the runners: tense arousal, associated with the experienced stress, was significantly higher before the run than immediately after the finish. Moreover, we observed an improvement in cognitive functioning after finishing the 100 km run on both of the trials on the Stroop color word test and on the forward digit span test.

Personal Growth and Psychobiological Stress Responsiveness to the Trier Social Stress Test in Students

The current study aimed to examine the effects of personal growth (PG) on psychobiological responses at baseline and responsiveness to laboratory acute stress in students. Twenty-four healthy students were recruited as participants. Participants were screened from 203 candidates according to levels of PG using Ryff’s scale and classified into high and low PG groups. During the laboratory session, 13 high and 11 low PG participants underwent the Trier Social Stress Test. Heart rate and high-frequency (HF) heart rate variability were monitored throughout the experiment. Salivary free-3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol (MHPG) and perceived stress were measured at baseline, immediately after tasks and after a recovery period. Baseline and recovery perceived stress (tense arousal) were significantly lower in the high PG group compared with the low PG group. Free-MHPG and HF component returned to baseline levels during recovery significantly more rapidly in the high PG group compared with the low PG group. There were no significant group differences in heart rate. The results showed that high PG students have lower noradrenaline and higher parasympathetic nervous system activity before and after acute stress. These findings suggest a protective psychobiological pathway linking PG with better psychosomatic health in students.

Tracking momentary experience in the evaluation of arts-on-prescription services: using mood changes during art workshops to predict global wellbeing change.

Aims:To measure the immediate impact of participating in arts-on-prescription workshops on multiple dimensions of mood and to evaluate whether improvement in mood is a mechanism for change, predicting improvements in global wellbeing before and after participation in arts-on-prescription programmes.Methods:The evaluation drew upon the experience sampling method, asking participants to complete a six-item mood questionnaire at the beginning and end of each workshop in a 12-week-long arts-on-prescription programme. Participants also completed a measure of global wellbeing at the beginning and end of the programme.Results:Multilevel modelling was used to test hypotheses since the data were hierarchical (with 1491 mood reports nested within 66 participants). There was a significant improvement in global wellbeing across participation in the arts-on-prescription programme. After each art workshop there was a significant increase on all dimensions of mood: hedonic tone (contentment); tense arousal (calmness); and energetic arousal (alertness). There was also a significant improvement in these dimensions of mood, over time, upon arrival at the art workshops each week. Furthermore, reduction in tense arousal after art workshops significantly predicted changes in global wellbeing.Conclusion:The findings suggest that a reduction in tense arousal (feeling less nervous, anxious and stressed) is a crucial component of arts-on-prescription services and make a direct link between experiences during art workshops and changes in global wellbeing for the first time. This strengthens the evidence base for arts-on-prescription and suggests that tracking experience across interventions is a useful evaluation tool, with much potential.