The Limits of Cognitive Reappraisal: Changing Pain Valence, but not Persistence, during a Resistance Exercise Task

Abstract

Physiological discomfort is commonly cited as a barrier for initiating and persisting with exercise. Although individuals may think of physiological discomfort as determined by physical sensations, it can also be influenced by cognitive and emotional factors. We explored the impacts of interpreting the purpose of pain as a sign of muscle building (helpful) vs. a sign of muscle tearing and possible injury (harmful) and tested the effect of cognitive reappraisals, or shifting interpretations of pain, on exercise persistence and the subjective experience of discomfort during exercise. Seventy-eight participants were randomized to listen to voice recordings that framed exercise-related pain as helpful vs. harmful before participating in a standard muscular endurance test using the YMCA protocol. Although the two experimental groups did not differ in the overall number of resistance training repetitions achieved, participants who were asked to think about the benefits (rather than the negative consequences) of pain reported less negative pain valence during exercise. Thus, the experience of pain was influenced by appraisals of the meaning of pain, but differences in pain valence did not impact exercise persistence. Theoretical implications and applications for affect-based exercise interventions are discussed.

Cognitive reappraisal and affective response to physical activity: associations with physical activity behavior

“…Cognitive reappraisal (CR) is one of the most effective emotion regulation strategies [ 18 ] and refers to being able to change one’s cognitions about a situation to reduce the emotional impact of that situation [ 19 ]. CR strategies are beneficial for changing one’s appraisal and perspective of an emotion-eliciting situation before fully experiencing it [ 19 , 20 ], and have been found to be positively linked to subjective well-being [ 21 , 22 ]. Although research interest in the role of emotion regulation in PA behavior has increased in recent years, to date, research on the relationship between PA and emotion regulation remains relatively scarce [ 16 , 20 ].…”

“…CR strategies are beneficial for changing one’s appraisal and perspective of an emotion-eliciting situation before fully experiencing it [ 19 , 20 ], and have been found to be positively linked to subjective well-being [ 21 , 22 ]. Although research interest in the role of emotion regulation in PA behavior has increased in recent years, to date, research on the relationship between PA and emotion regulation remains relatively scarce [ 16 , 20 ]. For example, reappraisal of the initial negative affect during moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) could be “It’s only for a few minutes and afterwards I will feel much better than before” or “The discomfort I feel actually shows that my muscles are getting stronger now”.…”

Cognitive reappraisal and affective response to physical activity: Associations with physical activity behavior

“…Cognitive reappraisal (CR) is one of the most commonly used emotion regulation strategies [18] and refers to being able to change one's cognitions about a situation to reduce the emotional impact of that situation [19]. CR strategies are bene cial for changing one's appraisal and perspective of an emotion eliciting situation before fully experiencing it [19,20], and have been found to be positively linked to subjective well-being [21,22]. Although research interest in the role of emotion regulation in PA behavior has increased in recent years, to date, research on the relationship between PA and emotion regulation remains relatively scarce [16,20].…”

“…CR strategies are bene cial for changing one's appraisal and perspective of an emotion eliciting situation before fully experiencing it [19,20], and have been found to be positively linked to subjective well-being [21,22]. Although research interest in the role of emotion regulation in PA behavior has increased in recent years, to date, research on the relationship between PA and emotion regulation remains relatively scarce [16,20]. CR is of particular interest because it is an adaptive emotion regulation strategy that can help transform affect during or after exercise into a positive (or less negative) affect [16,23], which might support PA adherence.…”