This investigation examined the effects of aerobic fitness and the Type A behavior pattern on cognitive functioning in the split-attention (dual task) paradigm. Sixty-four adults were classified as Type A or B by means of the Jenkins Activity Survey, and as Runner or Sedentary using self-reports of physical activity. Under challenging instructions, subjects performed a primary task (Raven Advanced Progressive Matrices) and secondary task (Backward Digit Span) alternatively under single and dual task conditions. There was a significant interaction between aerobic fitness and task condition such that Runners outperformed Sedentary subjects under dual, but not single, task conditions on the secondary task. No differences were found on the primary task. Backward Digit Span performance under dual, but not single, task conditions, was also found to be positively related to the subjects eating a low cholesterol diet and maintaining a healthy weight. Contrary to predictions, there were no significant effects of the Type A behavior pattern, either main or interaction, on any of the cognitive measures. Type A Runners exceeded Type B Runners in aerobic points, races per year, runs per week, Personal Record attempts, and level of dissatisfaction with performance. There were no differences in the tendency to run while injured, use of a stopwatch during training, or effort exerted in races. Overall, these findings suggest that an ability to perform under split-attention (dual task) conditions is positively related to aerobic fitness, a low-fat diet, and maintenance of a healthy weight. In addition, Type A Runners differ from B Runners in some, but not all, aspects related to the Type A pattern, suggesting that aerobic exercise may modify to a limited extent the Type A behavior pattern. The failure to find A-B differences in attentional style consistent with prior research (Matthews & Brunson, 1979) or interaction of type and exercise may reflect the nature of the sample and tasks in this particular investigation, compared with previous studies.

In this study, physiological and psychological outcomes of an 8-week moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise program (Zumba®) for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) were examined. Forty-six participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 24) or control group (n = 22). The experimental group participated in Zumba® for 8 weeks, 3 days per week, along with completing exercise rating scales and fitness tests. Outcome measures included agility, endurance, rate of perceived exertion (RPE), exercise motivation, and exercise self-efficacy. Agility, endurance, and RPE were measured by three fitness tests; Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and Modified Borg Dyspnoea (MBD). Physiological outcomes were measured before the intervention (pretest), 4 weeks during the intervention, and after the intervention (posttest). The experimental group completed a follow-up of all three fitness tests 2 weeks after the removal of the intervention. A paired t test assessed the continuous measures within each group. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

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Narcissism and physical self-efficacy and exercise commitment were investigated in 'addicted' and 'non-addicted' runners (n = 112) and aerobics exercisers (n = 57) and compared to a control group of non-exercisers (n = 42). Runners and aerobics exercisers were assigned to an 'addicted' or 'non-addicted' group using Hailey and Bailey's (1982) Negative Addiction Scale. All subjects completed biographical questionnaires, the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) and the Physical Self-Efficacy Scale (PSE). Although both narcissism and physical self-efficacy were found to play a significant role in exercise adoption, narciss\ism was the only significant variable when comparing 'addicted' and 'non-addicted' exercisers. Differences between the runners and aerobics exercisers were found with the aerobics exercisers exhibiting higher narcissistic tendencies than the runners. The runners were assigned to one of four quadrants based on their level of commitment and addiction to running and the Perceived Physical Ability subscale of the PSE and the Self-Sufficiency subscale of the NPI produced significant differences between the four quadrants. Taken together, the results suggest that addicted exercisers have the tendency to exhibit narcissistic traits, however the interaction with physical self-efficacy is equivocal. The findings are discussed with reference to relevant personality theory and implications for future research in this area. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1997.

The association between increased participation in physical activity (PA) and improvements in health is so well established that the promotion of regular participation in PA is a key public health priority. However, much remains to be explored about the dose-response relationship between PA and the many health benefits. To address this issue, there is a need to accurately measure PA across all population sub-groups. Finding a valid, reliable and sensitive measure of PA is essential for improving our understanding of PA-related disorders, for more clearly defining the dose-response relationship between the volume, intensity and pattern of PA and the associated health benefits, and to examine the effectiveness of interventions and public health initiatives. We conducted three exercise studies aimed at examining the associations between a novel indexof exercise volume and selected physiological and psychological outcomes. The first and second studies were secondary analyses of studies in which the validity of this index was assessed in two different exercise interventions: 12-weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise and a 6-week high intensity interval training intervention. The third study was a prospective randomized controlled trial testing the feasibility and practicality of this index as applied to a specific population in an at-home exercise intervention. Taken as a whole, the results from the three studies indicate that the novel method of measuring exercise volume is promising for tracking some of the biological and psychological benefits that are associated with exercise. In these studies, this novel index of exercise volume was significantly associated with specific markers of biological adaptation to exercise training that are clinically meaningful. Further research is needed to replicate these findings in larger, diverse samples, and to broaden our understanding of how applications of this novel index can expand our ability to illuminate mechanisms whereby exercise might improve physical and mental health in research and in practice.

This study was conducted to examine the sequelae of cardiovascular conditioning on locus of control, short-term mood, and psychological well-being. A pre-post test design, with control group, was used to measure the effects of a one month program of aerobic conditioning on adult volunteers. This study also sought to examine ways in which fitness changes covaried with psychological changes, and to describe patterns of change taking place during aerobic conditioning.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of acute aerobic exercise on cardiovascular reactivity to psychological stress. Twenty-four trained male cyclists (aged 19-26) from local cycling teams and clubs in the Blacksburg, Virginia area participated in this exercise study. These subjects cycled a minimum of 4 times per week, 30 minutes per session and were randomly assigned to either the Cold Pressor (CP) or Stroop Color Word (SCW) tasks. All subjects participated in exercise and control sessions. The exercise session consisted of 30 minutes at 70% VO₂ max and the control session involved several health assessments with no exercise. There was no significant difference in blood pressure (BP) or heart rate (HR) change scores (peak-baseline) for treatment or interaction effects. Baseline and recovery systolic blood pressure (SBP), however, showed significant differences for the main effect of treatment (exercise vs. control) (p<.05); interaction effects had a tendency toward significance (p=.09) for baseline SBP. These differences in baseline prompted a re-analysis to statistically explore a possible reduction in anticipatory response to psychological stressors. No treatment or interaction effects were found in this secondary analysis. The results of this study provide only limited support for the hypothesis that acute aerobic exercise reduces BP response to subsequent non-exercise stressors. The effects, if present at all, appear to be stronger in the baseline or anticipatory period. Future research designs should be capable of specifically examining effects in the anticipatory period. These results also provide little support for a selective effect of aerobic exercise on BP reactivity based upon the type of stressor presented. / Master of Science