Effects of acute aerobic exercise or meditation on emotional regulation.
Meghan K. Edwards, Ryan E Rhodes, Joshua R Mann, Paul D Loprinzi
Physiology & Behavior January 5, 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.12.037 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 63 |
| Population | Young adults, mean age 21.3 years |
| Interventions | Stretching brisk walking meditation |
| Duration | 10-minute intervention; film clip 3 minutes; followed by 12 International Affective Picture System images |
| Measures | Feeling Scale (FS), Felt Arousal Scale (FAS), affective circumplex measure |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Walking Emotions Visual perception Arousal Motion pictures Adolescent Female Muscle stretching exercises Young adult Stress Affect Physical activity Exercise psychology |
| Key findings | A 10-minute bout of brisk walking or meditation before a negative emotion cue did not differentially affect the ability to regulate sadness, anger, or anxiousness compared with active stretching. A group-by-time interaction was found for the circumplex 'excited' dimension (P=0.001, η2=0.21), and a meditation-by-emotion-regulation interaction appeared among those with varying meditation experience (P=0.009). |
Abstract
Effective emotional regulation is critical for overall psychological well-being; as such, it is important to investigate potential methods to optimize emotion regulation abilities. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an acute bout of aerobic exercise and meditation on emotional regulation among young adults. Participants (N=63, mean age=21.3yrs) were randomly assigned to stretch (control group, n=21), walk (n=21), or meditate (n=21) for 10-min, after which they were exposed to a film clip (3min) intended to elicit a negative emotional state (e.g., sadness, anger). Participants then viewed 12 International Affective Picture System images validated to elicit a negative valence. Participants' affect (valence and arousal) states were monitored before, during, and after the stretching, walking, and meditation bouts using the Feeling Scale (FS) and Felt Arousal Scale (FAS). Distinct affect was assessed utilizing an affective circumplex measure before and after the stretch/walk/meditation bout, as well as following the film clip and image viewing. A significant group×time interaction effect was present when evaluating circumplex excited: P=0.001 (η2=0.21). Additionally, an interaction effect of meditation and emotional regulation was observed (P=0.009) among those with varying degrees of meditation experience. A 10-min bout of brisk walking and meditation, prior to exposure to a negative emotion cue, did not differentially effect the ability to regulate sadness, anger, or anxiousness when compared to an active stretching control group. Future replicative work addressing this paradigm, which is in support of positive psychology theory, is warranted.
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
- The effect of ten versus twenty minutes of mindfulness meditation on state mindfulness and affect. Scientific Reports November 24, 2023
- The Effect of Ten vs. Twenty Minutes of Mindfulness Meditation on State Mindfulness and Affect Research Square March 14, 2023
- Walking meditation versus balance training for improving balance abilities among older adults with history of fall: A randomized controlled trial Clinical Rehabilitation April 1, 2022
- The Differential Impact of Acute Exercise and Mindfulness Meditation on Executive Functioning and Psycho-Emotional Well-Being in Children and Youth With ADHD Frontiers in Psychology June 14, 2021
- How Does Exercise Improve Implicit Emotion Regulation Ability: Preliminary Evidence of Mind-Body Exercise Intervention Combined With Aerobic Jogging and Mindfulness-Based Yoga. Frontiers in Psychology August 27, 2019
Cites 8
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- 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
- A Moment of Mindfulness: Computer-Mediated Mindfulness Practice Increases State Mindfulness. PLoS One April 22, 2016
- Meditation, mindfulness and executive control: the importance of emotional acceptance and brain-based performance monitoring. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience April 15, 2012
and 3 more in the library