The effect of exercise on affective and self-efficacy responses in older and younger women

Background: This study examined the self-efficacy and affective responses to an acute exercise bout in sedentary older and younger women to determine whether aging has an effect on affective states. Methods: Twenty five sedentary younger (mean age 19.9 yrs) and 25 older (mean age 55.7 yrs) women completed an acute bout of exercise. Affective responses were measured prior to, during and immediately following exercise. Self-efficacy responses were measured prior to and immediately following exercise. Results: Positive engagement, revitalization, tranquility, Felt Arousal and Feeling Scale responses and self-efficacy were all higher immediately following compared to prior to or during exercise for both groups of women. Additionally, older women experienced higher overall positive engagement and lower physical exhaustion compared to younger women as well as higher tranquillity and Feeling Scale responses immediately following exercise. Conclusions: This investigation found that an acute bout of moderate-intensity exercise produced more positive and fewer negative affective states in both younger and older women