The impact of acute and chronic exercise on the psychophysiological responses to real-life and cognitive stressors

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Author
Wasley, David
Date
2006Type
Thesis
Publisher
University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
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Show full item recordAbstract
Heightened stress responses may be linked to the pathogenesis of various
cardiovascular diseases. Individuals who are fitter and more physically active or have just
completed an acute bout of exercise are proposed to have an attenuated cardiovascular
stressor response. However, research to date utilises mainly laboratory-based stressors
and there is a paucity of research investigating real-life stressors. Three studies were
conducted to examine these relationships.
Firstly, current fitness and physical activity levels and musicians' (n=58)
psychological and physiological responses to musical performance (real-life stressor) and
cognitive laboratory stressors were examined. Results showed that fitness was positively
related to heart rate reactivity pre-real-life stressor but inversely related to absolute heart
rate during a cognitive laboratory stressor. Physical activity was not related to any of the
psychological or physiological measures pre- or during a real-life or laboratory stressor.
Fitter individuals in this sample did not show a differentiated pattern of heart rate
variability response prior to a real-life stressor.
Secondly, the effect of l6 weeks of aerobic training (n=12) on psychological and
physiological responses to a musical performance and a cognitive laboratory stressor were
examined, and compared to an Alexander Technique group (n=9). Aerobic training
resulted in lower heart rate during the real-life stressor compared to the Alexander
Training.
Finally, the effect of 20 min of exercise (70% VO₂max) on psychological and
physiological indices pre-stressor were compared to no exercise (n=12) in a within-subject
random crossover design. Patterns of heart rate, blood pressure and heart rate
variability were similar for both conditions.
Overall these results provide mixed evidence on the benefits of exercise, fitness
and physical activity in altering individuals' responses to stressors. The use of musical
performance as a real-life stressor is generally supported, but differences are noted
between study conditions suggesting that study design needs careful consideration when
working with real-life stressors.
Description
PhD Thesis
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