Effects of aerobic exercise on mood state of university students: a quasi-experimental approach

This study investigated the effects of acute aerobic exercise on mood state of university students. Male and female participants (N = 20; Mean age= 21.13, SD = 1.017 years) who were physically in perfect health and had no history of disease participated in the study. The participants were selected based on the temperament grades of the pre-test and were randomly divided into two groups of control (10 girls and 10 boys) and training (10 girls and 10 boys). The training group did rhythmic aerobic exercises for two weeks; each session lasted 60 minutes including 10 minutes as warm up exercises with basic aerobic movements, 40 minutes as the conditioning part (which started with the intensity of 140bpm and reached to 160bpm in final sessions), and 10 minutes of non-impact aerobics movements and stretching for cooling down, by which the training session ended. The control group did not participate in any training programs during the study but was given an exercise pep talk. Participants completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) before and after exercise bouts, and scores were compared using repeated measures ANOVAs. Results showed a significant difference in mean mood state scores in the tension, anger, fatigue, depression, confusion subscales of the POMS and also in the overall total mood disturbance of the participants. The was a significant main effect for mood change over time (Greenhouse-Geisser 1.526, 76 =174.329, p<0.05, Ƞ2=0.821), a significant main effect for groups (F (1,38) =78.993, p<0.05, Ƞ2=0.675) and a significant Time × Group interaction effect (Greenhouse-Geisser 1.526, 76 =56.992, p<0.05, Ƞ2=0.600). Pairwise comparisons were all significant in the tension, vigor, anger and confusion subscales of the POMS. In conclusion, exercise appears to be effective in improving mood and it is recommended that aerobic exercises can be performed as a mood enhancement strategy and should be included in public health programs.