Russell, W. D., Pritschet, B., Frost, E., Emmett, J., Pelley, T. J., Black, J., & Owen, J. (2002). A comparison of post-exercise mood enhancement across common exercise distraction activities. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 34(5), Supplement abstract 160.

College-age students (N = 53) were randomly assigned to exercise while reading, watching television, or no-distraction groups. Ss completed the POMS after five minutes of quiet rest, then exercised for 25 minutes at 60-75% of individual heart rate reserve. The POMS was completed again five minutes after exercise completion.

Exercise improved mood from pre- to post-test. There were no subscale changes that were statistically significant. It was proposed that the enjoyable characteristics of the distraction and not the distraction itself were responsible for mood enhancement.

Implication. Distractions during exercise or exercise-specific content should be positive and enjoyable.

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