A comparison of brief, single sessions of physical activity and relaxation/meditation on affective responses of female undergraduates

A COMPARISON OF BRIEF, SINGLE-SESSIONS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND RELAXATIONIMEDITATION ON AFFECTIVE RESPONSES OF FEMALE UNDERGRADUATES Paul G. Salmon December 8, 2003 This study compared brief, single sessions of physical activity (P A, self-paced treadmill walking) and relaxation/meditation (RIM, the 'Body Scan') on positive and negative affect and anxiety measures in female undergraduates. Both were predicted to reduce negative and enhance positive affect. Differential effects ofPA and RIM were predicted for participants with predominantly cognitive or somatic anxiety symptoms. Forty-six undergraduates were randomized to PA or RIM interventions. Changes in positive and negative affect (Positive and Negative Affect Scale, PANAS) and anxiety (Spielberger State I Trait Anxiety Inventory) were assessed using multivariate, repeatedmeasures statistics. Both PANAS Negative Affect & ST AI anxiety scores declined following P A, but PANAS positive affect also declined. Similarly, RIM significantly reduced ST AI and PANAS Positive Affect scores, and (marginally) PANAS negative affect. Anxiety reduction was greatest following RIM for participants with cognitive anxiety symptoms, but the complementary prediction concerning PIA and somatic symptoms was not supported.