Citation

Palmer J, Vacc N, Epstein J. J. Stud. Alcohol 1988; 49(5): 418-421.

Affiliation

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Alcohol and Drug Defense Program, Raleigh 27603-1712.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1988, Rutgers Center of Alcohol Studies)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

3216644

Abstract

This study examined the usefulness of physical exercise as a treatment intervention to decrease depression and anxiety in adult inpatient alcoholics while increasing aerobic capacity and self-concept. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale, the Self-Rating Depression Scale and the Astrand-Rhyming bicycle-ergometer were administered to a treatment and a control group on admission to and again at discharge from a 28-day inpatient treatment program. Control group data were gathered prior to initiating the exercise program. The exercise program consisted of walking or jogging 3 days a week and was designed to meet the American College of Sports Medicine's minimum requirements for a graded exercise program. Results indicated that there were significant differences on posttest scores between the control and exercise groups on state anxiety, trait anxiety and depression, but not on self-concept or aerobic capacity. The usefulness of physical exercise as a treatment intervention as well as the implication for research are discussed.

Language: en