title: Effects of exercise intensity and self-efficacy on state anxiety with breast cancer survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether acute exercise reduces state anxiety and whether this reduction is moderated by the sample (i.e., breast cancer survivors versus those without a cancer diagnosis), exercise intensity (i.e., moderate versus light), and the potential sample times intensity interactions; and to explore whether changes in self-efficacy and state anxiety reciprocally predict each other as suggested by social cognitive theory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Repeated-measures, experimental pilot.
  
  
  METHODS
  University laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Breast cancer survivors (n = 25) and age-matched women without a cancer diagnosis (n = 25).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cycling for 20 minutes at light and moderate intensities on two separate occasions. State anxiety and self-efficacy measures were completed before, immediately following, and 10 minutes after exercise.
  
  
  METHODS
  State anxiety, self-efficacy, and light and moderate exercise.
  
  
  RESULTS
  2 (sample) x 2 (intensity condition) x 3 (time) repeated-measure analyses of variance revealed a main effect for time (p < 0.01, eta2 = 0.37, F[2, 86] = 24.687), but between-sample and exercise intensity interaction effects were not significant. Autoregressive path analysis using ordinary least squares multiple regression revealed significant reciprocation for self-efficacy and anxiety pre-exercise (light intensity beta = 0.49, p < 0.05; moderate intensity beta = -0.37, p < 0.05) and post-exercise (moderate intensity beta = -0.31, -0.23, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acute exercise at light and moderate intensity decreases state anxiety for breast cancer survivors and those without a diagnosis. Additional research is warranted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Light- and moderate-intensity exercise may be a valuable alternative anxiolytic tool that also allows for the acquisition of myriad additional known health benefits associated with exercise.
authors.affiliation: Department of National Defence, Human Performance Research and Development, Victoria, Canada. rachelb@uvic.ca
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blacklock
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blanchard
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaul
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D001642:Bicycling; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020377:Self Efficacy; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology