A comparison of group and individual physical training programs and their effect on mood

The effect of group and individual physical training programs on mood was studied. One hundred and twelve treatment subjects participated in a ten-week program of either group or individual exercise. Thirty-eight control subjects remained sedentary throughout the ten-week treatment period. The Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire was used to collect data on the mood states tension, depression, anger, vigor, fatigue, and confusion from exercise treatment and control subjects. Physiological data including weight, Max VO2, percentage of body fat, and flexibility were collected from the exercise treatment subjects through administration of the YMCA Physical Fitness Test Battery (modified). Statistical analysis revealed that exercise treatment subjects experienced significant improvements in Max VO2, percentage of body fat, and flexibility ($p <$.05). Group exercisers experienced a significant improvement in body weight ($p <$.05) while individual exercisers did not. The results revealed that both the individual exercise treatment and the group exercise treatment were equally effective in bringing about physiological change. ANOVA conducted on data collected from the exercise treatment subjects showed highly significant improvements in mood resulting from participation in the ten-week physical training program ($p <$.02). Control subjects did not improve in mood with the exception of anger. No significant differences were observed in the degree of mood change between the individual exercisers and the group exercisers. Significant immediate pre-exercise to immediate post-exercise mood improvements were observed in both exercise treatment groups ($p <$.05). Data analysis demonstrated that immediate mood changes are independent of exercise format for the mood states tension and depression. ANCOVA revealed that the group exercisers experienced significantly better levels of vigor and fatigue than did the individual exercisers as the physical training program continued ($F <$.04). Multiple regression demonstrated that final mood scores are best predicted by initial mood scores. ANCOVA revealed that mood improvements experienced during the ten-week physical training program were independent of change in the physiological indices studied. Although it was shown that immediate and longer-term mood changes can be brought about by participation in a well-rounded ten-week physical training program, the specific mechanisms responsible for these changes are still unclear.