title: Affective outcomes during and after high-intensity exercise in outdoor green and indoor gym settings.
abstract: Outdoor exercise settings promote greater psychological well-being than synthetic equivalents, although the influence of the exercise context has not been investigated at high exercise intensities. This study compared the psychological effects of high-intensity exercise in outdoor green and indoor gym settings in 22 adult runners using a randomized repeated measures design. Affect and perceived exertion were assessed before, during, and after a 6000-m run with the second half completed at maximum effort. Perceived exertion and activation increased in a progressive manner from baseline to 6000 m, and decreased during the 10-min recovery post-run. Non-significant reductions in affective valence were observed between 3000 and 6000 m, followed by a significant increase post-run. Outcomes did not differ at any time point between the settings. This study suggested that regular runners experience positive affective responses during and after high-intensity exercise in both a natural outdoor environment and an indoor gym.
authors.affiliation: a School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences , Loughborough University , Loughborough , UK.
authors.forename: Toby Louis
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: a School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences , Loughborough University , Loughborough , UK.
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stevinson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D004777:Environment; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Psychological well-being; affect; natural environments; physical activity