Affective Responses to Acute Bouts of Aerobic Exercise, Mindfulness Meditation, and Combinations of Exercise and Meditation: A Randomized Controlled Intervention.
Meghan K. Edwards, Paul D Loprinzi
Psychological Reports April 2019 DOI: 10.1177/0033294118755099 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 110 |
| Population | Young adults, mean age 21.4 years |
| Interventions | Brisk walking Meditation |
| Duration | 10-minute bouts |
| Measures | Exercise Induced Feelings Inventory |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Affect Combination Exercise psychology Physical activity Walking |
| Key findings | A single 10-minute bout of brisk walking or meditation, or a combination of both, may positively influence affect. Significant group-by-time effects appeared for revitalization, tranquility, and exhaustion, but not positive engagement. The authors suggest affective benefits may be greater following meditation or a combination of meditation and walking compared with walking alone. |
Abstract
Single bouts of aerobic exercise and meditation have been shown to induce positive affect. In a novel experimental paradigm, we sought to examine the effects of an acute bout of aerobic exercise and meditation, as well as exercise and meditation combined on affect among young adults. Participants ( N = 110, mean age = 21.4 years) were randomly assigned to walk, meditate, walk then meditate, meditate then walk, or to sit (inactive control). All walking and meditation bouts were 10 minutes in duration. Participants' affect was monitored before and after the intervention using the Exercise Induced Feelings Inventory. Significant group × time interaction effects were observed for three Exercise Induced Feelings Inventory subscales, including revitalization ( p < .001), tranquility ( p = .02), and exhaustion ( p = .03); the group × time interaction for Exercise Induced Feelings Inventory positive engagement was nonsignificant ( p = .16). A single bout of brisk walking or meditation, as well as a combination of walking and meditation, may positively influence affect. There is some evidence to suggest that affective benefits may be greater following meditation or a combination of meditation and walking, when compared with walking alone.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- Altering Affective Responses and Emotional Reactivity Through Acute Bouts of Aerobic Exercise With and Without Mindfulness. Psychophysiology September 2026
- Acute effects of ultra-short aerobic and resistance, yoga-based mobility, and mindfulness meditation sessions on mental health: a randomized online study. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living 2026
- Mindfulness, Education, and Exercise for age-related cognitive decline: Study protocol, pilot study results, and description of the baseline sample. Clinical Trials October 2020
- Exploring the Use of Meditation as a Valuable Tool to Counteract Sedentariness. Frontiers in Psychology February 25, 2020
- Effects of mindfulness on psychological and psychophysiological responses during self-paced walking. Psychophysiology January 17, 2020
Cites 12
- A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness meditation versus relaxation training: Effects on distress, positive states of mind, rumination, and distraction Annals of Behavioral Medicine February 1, 2007
- Intensive meditation training improves perceptual discrimination and sustained attention. Psychological Science June 1, 2010
- Mindfulness‐based approaches: are they all the same? Journal of Clinical Psychology January 19, 2011
- Neural correlates of mindfulness meditation-related anxiety relief Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience April 24, 2013
- Differential Experimental Effects of a Short Bout of Walking, Meditation, or Combination of Walking and Meditation on State Anxiety Among Young Adults. American Journal of Health Promotion May 1, 2018
and 7 more in the library