ECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH11
Feelings of pleasure and displeasure (affective valence) during exercise are considered predictors of future exercise behavior (1). Affective valence is typically measured using self-report scales such as the Feeling Scale (FS) (2). However, these measures are susceptible to biases (e.g., social desirability). Consequently, identifying alternative methods that mitigate biases could offer new insights into affective responses during exercise. Facial actions have emerged as promising objective measures, providing real-time, non-verbal indicators of affective states (3). This study examines relationships between facial actions and pleasure–displeasure during resistance exercise. We hypothesized that FS scores would decrease over repetitions and that specific facial actions (e.g., mouth open, jaw drop) would negatively correlate with FS scores, indicating reduced pleasure. Using a within-subjects repeated measures design, participants completed 4 sets of 10 repetitions of a seated row exercise with a 3-minute recovery period between sets. Exercise intensity was standardized using each participants 10-repetition maximum. FS responses were collected after repetitions 1, 4, 7, and 10 of each set. Facial actions were continuously recorded and analyzed at 30 frames per second using iMotions (version 8.1). Preliminary analyses of 40 participants (19 females, 21 males; mean age = 42.8, SD = 12.1) using repeated-measures ANOVA found no significant inter-set FS differences (p > .05). However, a repeated-measures ANOVA with Greenhouse-Geisser correction revealed a significant intra-set effect, F(1.35, 52.71) = 13.98, p < .001, eta^2 = .264, indicating a moderate-to-large effect size. Post hoc pairwise comparisons (Bonferroni corrected) demonstrated that FS scores significantly decreased between repetitions 4 and 10 (p < .001), 4 and 7 (p = .003), and 1 and 10 (p = .006). No significant differences were observed between repetitions 1 and 4, and 1 and 7 (p > .05). The associated mean FS scores rose from repetition 1 to 4 before declining thereafter with values of M = 2.13 (SD = 1.28), M = 2.24 (SD = 1.21), M = 1.84 (SD = 1.41), and M = 1.47 (SD = 1.52) at repetitions, 1, 4, 7 and 10, respectively. Pearson correlations revealed significant negative associations between eye widen, cheek raise, and FS scores, indicating these facial actions may reflect affective responses during exercise. These findings offer support for the use of facial actions as indicators of affective responses during resistance exercise, offering a complementary approach to self-report measures. Future studies may employ these novel methods in different protocols, such as cardiorespiratory exercise, to further validate their utility. Such research could inform the development of exercise protocols that maximize pleasure, ultimately promoting long-term engagement in physical activity. (1) Rhodes & Kates, 2015 (2) Hardy & Rejeski, 1989 (3) Cohn et al., 2007
Read CV Tony KerECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH11
Young adult women are at risk for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), which are highly comorbid. The antidepressant effects of regularly-performed resistance exercise training (RET) are well-established, and have high potential for impact among women. However, little is known about the effects of a single resistance exercise (RE) session on transient feelings of depressed mood, or depressed mood state. PURPOSE: To examine the acute effects of a single moderate-to-high intensity compared to low intensity sham RE session on depressed mood state among young adult women with subclinical, or analogue GAD (AGAD), with or without comorbid subclinical, or analogue MDD (AMDD). METHODS: Sixty-six young adult women (22.0±2.8y) with AGAD were randomized to eight weeks of moderate-to-high intensity, guidelines-based RET, or a low intensity sham RET attention control. An acute randomized controlled trial at week one investigated the effects of a single RE session on mood states. Moderate-to-high intensity participants performed two sets of 8-12 repetitions of eight exercises with loads of approximately 70-80% of their estimated one-repetition maximum (1RM). Low intensity sham RE participants completed the same RE session with lighter loads (~20% 1RM). The Depression subscale of the Profile of Mood States-Brief Form (POMS-B) measured depressed mood state pre- and 10 minutes post-RE. A two group (RE/sham) X two timepoint (pre/post) repeated measures ANOVA examined differences between moderate-to-high and low intensity RE. Sub-analyses were conducted among young adults with comorbid depressive symptoms, AMDD, and pre-exercise POMS-B ≥1 and ≥4. RESULTS: No significant group X time interaction was found for depressed mood state (F(1,64)=2.40, p=0.127). Significant main effects for time were found among the total sample (F(1,64)=30.55, p<0.001, d=0.56-0.59), and sub-samples with comorbid depressive symptoms (F(1,56)=29.70, p<0.001, d=0.55-0.64), AMDD (F(1,24)=20.38, p<0.001, d=0.73-0.90), and pre-exercise POMS-B ≥1 (F(1,36)=46.23, p<0.001, d=0.76-1.16) and ≥4 (F(1,16)=34.07, p<0.001, d=1.10-1.37), such that depressed mood state reduced following both moderate-to-high and low intensity RE. CONCLUSION: Moderate-to-high and low intensity RE elicited similar, within-condition, moderate-to-large magnitude reductions in depressed mood state. Consequently, anxious young women may achieve similar benefits for depressed mood state by performing light intensity RE, requiring less physical effort, as they would from higher intensity, more physically-demanding RE.
Read CV Darragh O SullivanECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH11
Introduction Adolescent athletes face an enormous amount of stress due to high demands in their career, and it can impact their physical performance and mental well-being. Since ancient times people have used breathing techniques to help them improve their focus and prepare for the challenges ahead. A number of these techniques have been proven to work for adults, but there is a lack of knowledge of what kind of techniques can be applied to adolescents. The aim of the study was to identify and summarize breathing techniques for stress reduction and cognitive function improvement in 14 – 17-year-old adolescent athletes. Methods Following the Joanna Briggs Institute Manual for Evidence Synthesis searches covered databases: Science Direct; Scopus; Cochrane; ProQuest; PsycINFO; Google Scholar; The Web of Science; EBSCOhost Complete. A scoping review for English-language research covered the period from January 2000 to December 2023, to determine the scope of the use of breathing techniques in an adolescent sports environment. Results The results yielded five articles that encompassed such breathing techniques as heart rate variability biofeedback, slow-paced breathing, yogic breathing techniques and relaxation breathing. Stress was a much more prevalent outcome variable as compared to cognitive function. Discussion The benefits of breathing techniques have been long documented for various conditions both related and unrelated to sports. The present scoping review affirmed that breathing techniques for adolescent athletes can reduce stress and enhance cognitive capacity. In sports context this can be used as a tool to gauge the nervous system and maximize the benefit of either peak activity moments or the recuperation phase thereafter. As for the adolescent population, more demand and techniques seem to be available for the calming effect. Conclusions Breathing techniques can reduce stress and improve cognitive function in adolescent athletes, but more research is needed to determine the most effective techniques.
Read CV Gints PeleckisECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH11