Thursday, March 19, 2015
Exhibit Hall Poster Area 2 (Convention Center)
Background/Purpose: An emerging body of evidence has indicated an improvement in mood after participating in aerobic exercise. However, only few researchers have compared mindful modes of exercise with aerobic exercise. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of yoga versus moderate-intensity exercise on mood in active collegiate females. It was hypothesized that an acute bout of yoga would be more effective at improving mood and reducing state anxiety when compared with acute bouts of moderate-intensity exercise among college females. Method: Thirty physically active (participated in physical activity four or more times per week) collegiate females (ht. = 168.04 ± 8.21cm; wt. = 63.74 ± 7.87 kg; age = 21.17 ± 0.648 yrs), volunteered as participants in this study. Subjects signed an IRB approved (#494901-1) consent form prior to testing. Mood was assessed pre- and post-exercise using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) (Speilberger, et al., 1969) and the Exercise-Induced Feeling Inventory (EIFI) (Gauvin & Rejeski, 1993). Ten subjects each were assigned to one of the two exercise conditions: a hatha yoga class and a moderate-intensity exercise. A control group of 10 subjects did not partake in any exercise conditions but completed the STAI. Analysis/Results: Two paired t-tests resulted in statistical significance for the pre-moderate exercise (42.2 ± 11.84) vs. post-moderate exercise (31.5 ± 3.98) STAI (p= 0.01); pre-yoga (54.3 ± 9.53) vs. post yoga (28.9 ± 2.73) STAI (p=0.00). Three two-tailed t-tests resulted in statistical significance for the post-moderate exercise (31.5 ± 3.98) vs. post-yoga (54.3 ± 9.53) STAI (p=0.109); control (42.40 ± 13.18) vs. post-yoga (28.9 ± 2.73) STAI (p=0.01); control (42.40 ± 13.18) vs. post-moderate exercise (31.5 ± 3.98) STAI (p=0.03). Post-moderate exercise percent improvements were reported as follows on the EIFI: positive engagement: 40%; revitalization: 55%; tranquility: 31%. Physical exhaustion decreased by 21%. Post-yoga exercise percent improvements were reported as follows on the EIFI: positive engagement: 17%; revitalization: 68%; tranquility: 112%. Physical exhaustion decreased by 39%. Conclusions: Results from the STAI and EIFI indicate that yoga practice and moderate intensity exercise can improve one’s mood and lower one's anxiety after exercise. The control group displayed higher scores of anxiety when compared to the post-moderate intensity exercise group and post-yoga group. These results suggest that yoga and moderate exercise can be associated with an elevation of mood state and reduced anxiety.