Anxiety and Intense Running Exercise in the Presence and Absence of Interpersonal Competition

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to evaluate the effects of intense running exercise in the presence and absence of interpersonal competition on both (a) pre-exercise anxiety levels and (b) alterations in anxiety as a consequence of the exercise. Seven females and 10 males performed a 5-mile run over the same outdoor course on two separate days. In one condition the subjects ran in a road-race in which intense exercise was combined with interpersonal competition. In the second condition, exercise of the same intensity (84% V̇O₂max) and duration was completed, but interpersonal competition was absent. Cognitive (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; STAI) and somatic (Body Awareness Scale; BAS) aspects of anxiety were measured 15 min before and after exercise as well as on a separate day under non-stressful, baseline conditions. A main effect for the Trials factor was found using repeated measures ANOVA [Condition (presence/absence of interpersonal competition) X Gender X Trials (baseline/pre-exercise/post-exercise)], and post-hoc analysis revealed that post-exercise state anxiety and body awareness levels were both reduced compared to pre-exercise baseline values. Condition and Gender main effects were not significant nor were any of the interaction effects. Pre-exercise STAI and BAS levels were found to be significantly (p < .01) elevated above baseline values. However, while post-exercise STAI scores were significantly (p < .01) below the baseline STAI level, the post-exercise BAS values did not fall below the corresponding baseline level. It was concluded that: (1) both cognitive (STAI) and somatic (BAS) aspects of anxiety are reduced following intense running, and this occurs both in the presence and absence of interpersonal competition, and (2) pre-exercise anxiety can be influenced to a greater extent by the intensity of an upcoming exercise bout than by the existence of interpersonal competition.

Key words

Body awareness scale - cognitive anxiety - interpersonal competition - somatic anxiety - state anxiety