Author(s): RICE, J., O’SULLIVAN, D.T., GORDON, B.R., LINDHEIMER, J.B., LYONS, M., HERRING, M.P. , Institution: UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK, Country: IRELAND, Abstract-ID: 1016

INTRODUCTION:
Previous randomized controlled trials (RCT) have shown significant reductions in worry and anxiety symptoms after as little as eight weeks of moderate intensity resistance exercise training (RET) compared to non-active comparisons. The pilot RCT reported here quantified the effects of eight-weeks of guidelines (WHO & ACSM) based moderate-to-high intensity RET compared to low intensity RET among young women with subclinical Generalized Anxiety Disorder (AGAD).
METHODS:
Twenty participants (mean age (y): 21.68±2.6) were randomized to either moderate-to-high or low intensity RET. Participants completed an 8-week, fully supervised, one-on-one moderate-to-high intensity RET intervention following a two-week familiarisation period, beginning at 75% predicted one-repetition maximum or low intensity RET, beginning at 20% predicted one-repetition maximum. AGAD status was confirmed using validated cut-scores for both the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (≥45) and the Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire-GAD subscale (≥6). The 16-item, self-reported Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) and the trait subscale of the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y2) measured worry and anxiety symptoms, respectively, at baseline, end of familiarization (pre-week 10, week 4, 8 and 1-month follow-up. A 2 (group) x 5 (timepoint) RM-ANOVA examined differences between low and moderate-to-high intensity RET. Hedges’ d effect sizes (95%CI) quantified the magnitude of differences in change between groups across time. Cohen’s d effect sizes (95%CI) quantified the magnitude of within-group change.
RESULTS:
No significant group X time interaction was found for worry (F(2.5,45)=1.47, p=0.240, d=0.74 [95%CI: -0.18 to 1.67]) or anxiety (F(1.8,32)=0.52, p=0.62, d=0.39 [95%CI: -0.51 to 1.29). A significant main effect for time was found for worry (F(2.5,45)=4.54, p=0.011) and anxiety (F(1.8,32)=7.10, p=0.004), such that both moderate (worry: d=0.82 [95%CI: -0.02 to 1.65]; anxiety: d=0.94 [95%CI: 0.10 to 1.80]) and low (worry: d=0.32 [95%CI:-0.66 to 1.31]; anxiety: d=0.54 [95%CI: -0.45 to 1.54]) intensity RET reduced worry and anxiety. Improvements in worry and anxiety persisted at the one-month follow-up for moderate-to-high intensity (worry: d=1.10 [95%CI: 0.17 to 1.96]; anxiety: d=1.20 [95%CI: 0.25-2.06]) and low (worry: d=0.73 [95%CI: -0.28 to 1.73]; anxiety: d=0.70 [95%CI: -0.31 to 1.71]).
CONCLUSION:
Eight-weeks of moderate-to-high intensity resistance exercise training induced stronger reductions in worry and anxiety symptoms compared to low intensity; however, the reductions were not significantly different compared to low intensity, likely due to the small, preliminary sample size. These preliminary findings suggest that both moderate-to-high and low intensity RET induced potentially clinically meaningful, moderate and large magnitude [within-group] reductions in worry and anxiety symptoms, that persisted at one-month follow-up.