Abstract The impact of a single session of resistance training (RT) on anxiety and mood states remains inconclusive, given the multiple ways RT variables can be manipulated. This study examined the effects of two RT protocols on anxiety, mood states, and affective responses in young adults with subclinical generalized anxiety disorder. Eleven participants (29±7 years; 3 females) completed two RT protocols with similar volume load and relative intensity (85% of 10RM and 3RM): three sets of ten repetitions with 60 s rest (3×10 60sec ) and eight sets of three repetitions with 120 s rest (8×3 120sec ), in a randomized crossover design. Anxiety and mood states were assessed pre- and 30 min post-exercise. Affective valence (AV) and perceived activation were assessed during exercise. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and enjoyment were assessed immediately after exercise protocols. A significant main effect of time was observed for anxiety (p=0.001), with reductions following both protocols (3×10 60sec : p=0.006, d=1.1; 8×3 120sec : p=0.026, d=0.65), with no interaction effect. Tension and total mood disturbance decreased in both conditions (all p<0.05), whereas anger decreased only after 3×10 60sec , and fatigue decreased and vigor increased only after 8×3 120sec . Affective valence responses differed between protocols, with lower post-exercise AV and higher perceived activation observed in 3×10 60sec compared to 8×3 120sec (p<0.05). The 8×3 protocol elicited lower RPE and higher enjoyment (p<0.05). These findings indicate that RT reduces anxiety and mood disturbance irrespective of configuration, although lower-repetition protocols may promote more favorable perceptual and affective responses.
Oliveira et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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