Reducing stress and improving mood and optimism have been shown to be emotional benefits of adequate exercise in adults. However, studies have not focused on adolescents to determine if they derive similar benefits. This purpose of this study is to determine if adequate exercise in adolescents is related to stress levels, mood, and optimism. Adequate exercise is defined as at least three sessions per week. Data was obtained from the Alabama Adolescent Survey conducted in the years of 1988, 1990, 1993, 1998, and 2001. Comparisons showed no significant difference in stress levels (p>0.05), with 23.6% reporting low exercise and high stress and 17.6% reporting adequate exercise and high stress. Similar results show for mood (p>0.05) with 12.0% reporting low exercise and sadness and 9.5% with adequate exercise and sadness. Regarding those with low optimism (p>0.05), 7.6% reported low exercise while 5.5% had adequate exercise. Analyses including the factors of gender, ethnicity, and living arrangement revealed no consistent significance. Overall, there are no consistent significant links between adequate exercise participation and these specific emotional benefits. These findings suggest that techniques used to motivate adults to exercise, such as emotional benefits of stress reduction and improved mood, should not be used to motivate adolescents to exercise.
Learning Objectives: 1. By the end of the session the learner will understand the relationship between emotional benefits and adequate exercise participation in adolescent populations. 2. By the end of the session the learner will recognize the changes in adequate exercise participation from 1988 to 2001. 3. By the end of the session the learner will identify inappropriate motivational strategies for increasing adolescent exercise.