Long-term effects of aerobic exercise on psychological outcomes.
BACKGROUND
Although the literature on increased physical fitness and psychological outcomes has grown large, a number of methodological limitations remain unaddressed. The present study was designed to address a number of these limitations while examining the short- and long-term psychological effects following completion of a 12-week aerobic fitness program using bicycle ergometry (and confirmed increases in fitness).


METHODS
Following completion of a 12-week aerobic fitness program (and through 12 months of follow-up), 82 adult participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory, Profile of Mood States, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale. Physiological measures used to assess changes in aerobic fitness were maximal work load, submaximal heart rate at a standard work load, predicted maximum oxygen uptake, and resting heart rate.


RESULTS
Exercise participants experienced a positive fitness change and psychological improvement over the initial 12-week program compared to a control group. At 1 year follow-up, physiological and psychological benefits remained significantly improved from baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, results indicate that exercise-induced increases in aerobic fitness have beneficial short-term and long-term effects on psychological outcomes. We postulate that participants in the exercise group did not increase the amount of weekly exercise they performed over the 12-month follow-up period and thus the maintenance of the psychological improvements occurred concurrent with equal or lesser amounts of exercise.
DiLorenzo
T M
TM
Department of Psychology, University of Missouri-Columbia 65211, USA.
Bargman
E P
EP
Stucky-Ropp
R
R
Brassington
G S
GS
Frensch
P A
PA
LaFontaine
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012649:Self Concept; D013997:Time Factors