Citation

Guszkowska M. Biomed. Hum. Kinet. 2009; 1(1): 6-10.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Versita Publications)

DOI

10.2478/v10101-009-0003-0

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Study aim: To determine anxiolytic effects of acute physical exertions in relation to the initial anxiety state and trait in women. Material and methods: A group of 163 women aged 16 - 56 years, attending fitness clubs in Warsaw, participated in the study. They selected a single exercise to perform - strength, aerobic or mixed, lasting 30 to over 60 min. They were requested to fill Spielberger's STAI questionnaires for determining the state anxiety (pre- and post-exercise) and trait anxiety (post-exercise). Questionnaire results were converted to logarithms, pre-post differences were computed and correlated with age, trait anxiety and pre-exercise state anxiety. Multiple correlation and the contributions of independent variables to the total variance of pre-post differences were also computed. Results: Pre-post differences in state anxiety were significantly correlated with pre-exercise state anxiety (r = 0.514; p Conclusions: The fact that subjects with high pre-exercise state anxiety are prone to its highest decrease post-exercise ought to be considered when designing leisure activity programmes.