Citation: TURNER, T.L. and STEVINSON, C., 2017. Affective outcomes during and after high-intensity exercise in outdoor green and indoor gym settings. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 27 (2), pp. 106-116.
Methods: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 6000m run with the second half completed at maximum effort.Results: Perceived exertion and activation increased in a progressive manner from baseline to 6000m, and decreased during the 10 min recovery post-run. Non-significant reductions in affective valence were observed between 3000m and 6000m, followed by a significant increase post-run. Outcomes did not differ at any time point between the settings.
Conclusion: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.