The Affective Responses to Moderate Physical Activity: A Further Study to Prove the Convergent and the Discriminant Validity for the German Versions of the Feeling Scale and the Felt Arousal Scale.

The present study proves the construct validity of the German versions of the Feeling Scale (FS) and the Felt Arousal Scale (FAS) for measuring the affective responses (affective valence and arousal) for a moderate-intensity jogging (JG) exercise. In previous studies, both scales were validated for a high-intensity bicycle ergometer exercise and for relaxation techniques. In the present study, 194 participants performed the JG exercise for 45 min and completed the FS and the FAS, as well as the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM), for a self-other comparison in a pre-test-intervention-post-test design. The results of the correlation analyses replicated the previous findings for the high-intensity bicycle ergometer exercise and the relaxation techniques, revealing significant positive correlations for the valence dimension between the FS and the SAM-Pleasure subscale (r = 0.50) and for the arousal dimension between the FAS and the SAM-Arousal subscale (r = 0.16). These findings suggest that the German versions of the FS and the FAS are also suitable for exercises of moderate intensity.

The effects of pre-task music on choice visual reaction time in elite taekwondo athletes.

OBJECTIVES: The effects of music on sport performance mainly involved endurance or resistance exercises overlooking possible effects on reaction time, which is deemed essential in martial arts for a proficient performance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the exposure to pre-task music on choice visual reaction time in elite taekwondo athletes. DESIGN: Repeated measure study design. METHODS: Reaction time and mean Heart Rate (HRmean) were recorded in twenty young taekwondo athletes (17.5 ±â€¯2.5 years old) while performing a roundhouse kick in response to different visual stimuli after three warmup conditions: listening to self-selected music (SM), research-selected music (RM) or no music (CC). Moreover, Feeling Scale (FS), Felt Arousal Scale (FAS) were recorded before (T0) and after warmup (T1) in each testing session. RESULTS: SM and RM elicited significantly faster reaction times compared to CC (-3.3 % and -5.2 %, respectively). No significant difference in reaction time was observed between SM and RM. The FS and FAS scores were significantly higher at T1 compared to T0 in the SM and RM conditions, whereas no difference between T0 and T1 was observed in the CC condition. No difference was observed for HRmean between SM, RM and CC conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Listening to SM and RM during the warmup improved choice visual reaction times in elite taekwondo athletes. These results suggest the use of music as a performance-enhancing strategy prior to combat competition or training in martial arts.

Affective responses to stretching exercises: Exploring the timing of assessments.

Affective responses during exercise have been identified as a predictor of exercise adherence. However, research has been mostly limited to aerobic and resistance exercise. Considering that stretching activities are also an important component of physical fitness, this quasi-experimental study was designed to: 1) compare affective responses during and immediately after stretching exercises in apparently healthy adults, and 2) assess the consistency and repeatability of affect ratings obtained one week apart. For this purpose, we analyzed the Feeling Scale (FS) and Felt Arousal Scale (FAS) ratings using Time (during and after stretching) x Intensity (light, moderate, vigorous) x Stretched Muscle Group (quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, latissimus dorsi, triceps) with repeated measures analysis of variance (ANCOVA) in 34 participants (21 males; aged 32.8 ± 8.6 years). The repeatability of FS and FAS ratings was assessed using two-way random-effects models, Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC), and Bland-Altman plots. FS scores were higher following the stretching exercises, whereas FAS scores were lower, particularly in the vigorous intensity. In general, the inter-day repeatability for FS and FAS measurements was good across muscle groups. ICC tended to be higher at vigorous intensities. Ratings of core affect can be collected during static passive stretches using the FAS and FAS in ecologically valid settings. These results suggest that an adequate assessment of core affective responses to stretching activities should be performed during the exercises.

A Validation Study for the German Versions of the Feeling Scale and the Felt Arousal Scale for a Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercise.

The aim of the present study is to prove the construct validity of the German versions of the Feeling Scale (FS) and the Felt Arousal Scale (FAS) for a progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) exercise. A total of 228 sport science students conducted the PMR exercise for 45 min and completed the FS, the FAS, and the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) in a pre-test-post-test design. A significant decrease in arousal (t(227) = 8.296, p < 0.001) and a significant increase in pleasure (t(227) = 4.748, p < 0.001) were observed. For convergent validity, the correlations between the FS and the subscale SAM-P for the valence dimension (r = 0.67, p < 0.001) and between the FAS and the subscale SAM-A for the arousal dimension (r = 0.31, p < 0.001) were significant. For discriminant validity, the correlations between different constructs (FS and SAM-A, FAS and SAM-P) were not significant, whereas the discriminant analysis between the FS and the FAS revealed a negative significant correlation (r = -0.15, p < 0.001). Together, the pattern of results confirms the use of the German versions of the FS and the FAS to measure the affective response for a PMR exercise.

Translation and Construct Validity of the Feeling Scale and the Felt Arousal Scale in Portuguese Recreational Exercisers / Traducción y Validez de Constructo de la Feeling Scale y la Felt Arousal Scale en Ejercitadores Recreativos Portugueses / Tradução e Validade de Constructo da Feeling Scale e Felt Arousal Scale em Praticantes Portugueses de Exercício Recreacional

La Feeling Scale y la Felt Arousal Scale son escalas ampliamente utilizadas en la investigación del deporte. En este estudio, las escalas originales fueron traducidas del inglés al portugués. Posteriormente, se comprobó si las puntuaciones de afecto y activación en el Self-Assessment Manikin, una escala basada en imágenes, predecían las puntuaciones en la Feeling Scale y en la Felt Arousal Scale en 47 deportistas recreativos portugueses, antes y después de una sesión de ejercicio. El Self-Assessment Manikin mostró correlaciones de moderadas a fuertes con la Feeling Scale (r = 0.70 y r = 0.56, p < 0.01) y la Felt Arousal Scale (r = 0.65 y r = 0.72, p < 0.01), y un poder predictivo sustancial sobre la Feeling Scale (R2 = 47% y R2 = 31%) y la Felt Arousal Scale (R2 = 42% y R2 = 52%). En base a este estudio, la Feeling Scale y la Felt Arousal Scale demostraron ser instrumentos válidos para medir el afecto y la excitación en los ejercitantes recreativos portugueses. (AU)

The Feeling Scale and Felt Arousal Scale are widely used in sport research. They provide a practical assessment of self-reported affect and arousal during exercise. The original scales were translated from English to Portuguese. Afterward, it was tested if the affect and arousal scores in the picture-based Self-Assessment Manikin predicted the scores in the Feeling Scale and the Felt Arousal Scale in 47 Portuguese recreational exercisers, before and after an exercise session. Self-Assessment Manikin showed moderate-to-strong correlations with the Feeling Scale (r = 0.70 and r = 0.56, p < 0.01) and the Felt Arousal Scale (r = 0.65 and r = 0.72, p < 0.01), and substantial predictive power over the Feeling Scale (R2 = 47% and R2 = 31%) and the Felt Arousal Scale (R2 = 42% and R2 = 52%). The Feeling Scale and Felt Arousal Scale are valid instruments to measure affect and arousal in Portuguese exercisers. (AU)

A Feeling Scale e a Felt Arousal Scale são amplamente utilizadas na investigação em desporto. Fornecem uma avaliação prática dos estados psicológicos de afeto e da ativação durante o exercício. Neste estudo, as escalas originais foram traduzidas do inglês para português. Posteriormente, testou-se se a pontuação do afeto e da ativação na Self-Assessment Manikin, uma escala baseada em imagens, previa a pontuação na Feeling Scale e na Felt Arousal Scale em 47 desportistas recreativos portugueses, antes e depois de uma sessão de exercício. A Self-Assessment Manikin mostrou correlações moderadas a fortes com a Feeling Scale (r = 0.70 e r = 0.56, p < 0.01) e com a Felt Arousal Scale (r = 0.65 e r = 0.72, p < 0,01), e um poder preditivo substancial sobre a Feeling Scale (R2 = 47% e R2 = 31%) e a Felt Arousal Scale (R2 = 42% e R2 = 52%). A Feeling Scale e a Felt Arousal Scale são instrumentos válidos para medir o afeto e a ativação em desportistas recreativos portugueses (AU)

Effect of carbohydrate ingestion during cycling exercise on affective valence and activation in recreational exercisers.

Carbohydrate (CHO) ingestion enhances "feel-good" responses during acute exercise but no study has examined the effect of regular ingestion of CHO on affective valence. We investigated the effect of CHO ingestion on perceptual responses and perceived work intensity of individual exercise sessions throughout a 10-week cycling ("spin") exercise intervention. We also assessed whether any changes in affect and/or perceived work intensity would influence health and fitness parameters. Twelve recreational exercisers (46 ± 9 years; nine females and three males) were randomly allocated to either CHO (7.5% CHO; 5 mL · kg-1 per exercise session; n = 6; CHO) or placebo (0% CHO, taste- and volume-matched solution; n = 6; PLA) groups. Participants exercised 2 × 45-min per week, over a 10-week intervention period. Perceptual measures of exertion (RPE), affect (feeling scale, FS) and activation (felt arousal scale, FAS) were assessed after each exercise session. The FAS ratings increased over time in CHO but decreased throughout the intervention in PLA (P = 0.03). There were no differences in heart rate (P = 0.70), RPE (P = 0.05) and FS (P = 0.84) between trials. Furthermore, no changes in health and fitness parameters were observed over time or between groups. CHO ingestion enhanced ratings of activation in recreational exercisers throughout a 10-week cycling intervention.