Affective Responses to High Intensity Interval Training Relative to Moderate Intensity Continuous Training

Background: Although physical activity (PA) among adults is associated with health benefits, only one-third of young adults meet PA recommendations. Examining if the type of PA has an impact on individuals’ psychological responses may impact future interventions and PA rates among young adults. Aims...

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Main Authors: Tyler M. Dregney, Chelsey M. Thul, Jennifer A. Linde, Beth A. Lewis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ubiquity Press 2023-07-01
Series:Physical Activity and Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://account.paahjournal.com/index.php/up-j-pah/article/view/271
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author Tyler M. Dregney
Chelsey M. Thul
Jennifer A. Linde
Beth A. Lewis
author_facet Tyler M. Dregney
Chelsey M. Thul
Jennifer A. Linde
Beth A. Lewis
author_sort Tyler M. Dregney
collection DOAJ
description Background: Although physical activity (PA) among adults is associated with health benefits, only one-third of young adults meet PA recommendations. Examining if the type of PA has an impact on individuals’ psychological responses may impact future interventions and PA rates among young adults. Aims: This study examined affective and other psychological responses to a class of high intensity interval training (HIIT) or moderate intensity continuous training (MICT). Methods: Participants (n = 41) were active 18–25-year-old college students randomized to participate in HIIT or MICT. HIIT was higher intensity and included more breaks from PA relative to MICT. Both classes were 30-minutes that included a warm-up and cool down. Psychological factors included affect, enjoyment, and exercise-feeling. Results and Conclusions: Participants in the HIIT condition reported lower positive affect and higher physical exhaustion during PA than the MICT condition. However, there was no effect of group assignment on enjoyment, tranquility, positive engagement, and revitalization. This study provides some evidence that HIIT may result in lower levels of positive affect and more exhaustion during PA; however, HIIT does not appear to impact enjoyment. Future studies should examine affect in HIIT relative to MICT through the lens of dual-mode theory over a multi-week intervention. Additionally, HIIT is often discussed as requiring less time relative to traditional workouts while experiencing similar positive health benefits, so future studies should examine affect during HIIT vs. MICT in shorter classes.
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spelling doaj.art-6bce0b78862d4934985938316a6db10a2023-08-09T14:03:20ZengUbiquity PressPhysical Activity and Health2515-22702023-07-0171229–238229–23810.5334/paah.271271Affective Responses to High Intensity Interval Training Relative to Moderate Intensity Continuous TrainingTyler M. Dregney0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2062-2133Chelsey M. Thul1Jennifer A. Linde2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9033-2097Beth A. Lewis3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6034-568XUniversity of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MNUniversity of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MNUniversity of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MNUniversity of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MNBackground: Although physical activity (PA) among adults is associated with health benefits, only one-third of young adults meet PA recommendations. Examining if the type of PA has an impact on individuals’ psychological responses may impact future interventions and PA rates among young adults. Aims: This study examined affective and other psychological responses to a class of high intensity interval training (HIIT) or moderate intensity continuous training (MICT). Methods: Participants (n = 41) were active 18–25-year-old college students randomized to participate in HIIT or MICT. HIIT was higher intensity and included more breaks from PA relative to MICT. Both classes were 30-minutes that included a warm-up and cool down. Psychological factors included affect, enjoyment, and exercise-feeling. Results and Conclusions: Participants in the HIIT condition reported lower positive affect and higher physical exhaustion during PA than the MICT condition. However, there was no effect of group assignment on enjoyment, tranquility, positive engagement, and revitalization. This study provides some evidence that HIIT may result in lower levels of positive affect and more exhaustion during PA; however, HIIT does not appear to impact enjoyment. Future studies should examine affect in HIIT relative to MICT through the lens of dual-mode theory over a multi-week intervention. Additionally, HIIT is often discussed as requiring less time relative to traditional workouts while experiencing similar positive health benefits, so future studies should examine affect during HIIT vs. MICT in shorter classes.https://account.paahjournal.com/index.php/up-j-pah/article/view/271hiitmictaffectenjoyment
spellingShingle Tyler M. Dregney
Chelsey M. Thul
Jennifer A. Linde
Beth A. Lewis
Affective Responses to High Intensity Interval Training Relative to Moderate Intensity Continuous Training
Physical Activity and Health
hiit
mict
affect
enjoyment
title Affective Responses to High Intensity Interval Training Relative to Moderate Intensity Continuous Training
title_full Affective Responses to High Intensity Interval Training Relative to Moderate Intensity Continuous Training
title_fullStr Affective Responses to High Intensity Interval Training Relative to Moderate Intensity Continuous Training
title_full_unstemmed Affective Responses to High Intensity Interval Training Relative to Moderate Intensity Continuous Training
title_short Affective Responses to High Intensity Interval Training Relative to Moderate Intensity Continuous Training
title_sort affective responses to high intensity interval training relative to moderate intensity continuous training
topic hiit
mict
affect
enjoyment
url https://account.paahjournal.com/index.php/up-j-pah/article/view/271
work_keys_str_mv AT tylermdregney affectiveresponsestohighintensityintervaltrainingrelativetomoderateintensitycontinuoustraining
AT chelseymthul affectiveresponsestohighintensityintervaltrainingrelativetomoderateintensitycontinuoustraining
AT jenniferalinde affectiveresponsestohighintensityintervaltrainingrelativetomoderateintensitycontinuoustraining
AT bethalewis affectiveresponsestohighintensityintervaltrainingrelativetomoderateintensitycontinuoustraining