Effects of acute exercise on state anxiety in breast cancer survivors.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of an acute bout of exercise on state anxiety in breast cancer survivors.


METHODS
A two-group (high and low state anxiety) by two-time (pre- and postexercise) mixed factorial design.


METHODS
Exercise physiology lab at the University of Alberta.


METHODS
34 stage I or II breast cancer survivors ranging in age from 39-65 (X = 50.50; SD = 6.62).


METHODS
Participants completed the State Anxiety Inventory prior to and five minutes following an acute bout of exercise.


METHODS
State anxiety.


RESULTS
A main effect resulted for group (p < 0.01) and time showing that state anxiety significantly decreased from pre- to postexercise (p < 0.03). Group by time interaction showed that state anxiety for the low state anxiety group did not change from pre- to postexercise (p > 0.05); however, state anxiety significantly decreased in the high state anxiety group (p < 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Acute exercise may be an effective intervention in reducing state anxiety in breast cancer survivors, especially those with high state anxiety.


CONCLUSIONS
Oncology nurses should be aware that in addition to other traditional anxiolytic therapies (e.g., relaxation therapy) commonly prescribed, acute exercise is an effective method for reducing state anxiety in breast cancer survivors.
Blanchard
C M
CM
American Cancer Society Behavioral Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA. Chris.Blanchard@cancer.org
Courneya
K S
KS
Laing
D
D
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*