title: Exercising with an iPod, friend, or neither: which is better for psychological benefits?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the role of music and social contact on exercise benefits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred twenty-nine (n = 229) students were randomly assigned to one of 6 conditions: biking alone with iPod or friend in a laboratory, walking alone with iPod or friend outdoors, or biking or walking alone in control conditions. All participants completed 20 minutes of exercise at 70% of their maximum target heart rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exercising in control conditions indoors resulted in a more relaxed and calm response. Exercising outdoors was more enjoyable and resulted in less tension and stress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exercise environment impacts psychological benefits of exercise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA 94025-0333, USA. tplante@scu.edu
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Plante
authors.forename: Carissa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gustafson
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brecht
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Imberi
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanchez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000339:Affect; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D055539:MP3-Player; D008297:Male; D009146:Music / Q000523:psychology; D011897:Random Allocation; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016138:Walking / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult