The Effects of Aerobic Exercise Intensity and Age On Anxiety, Depression and Well-being

Studies show that regardless of age, many beneficial effects of aerobic exercise on psychological health are evident including the reduction of anxiety and depression as well as enhancing ones' well-being. However, the intensity level of the exercise that is most beneficial in reducing anxiety, depression and enhancing well-being as well as age effects have received relatively little attention in the exercise literature.;Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of high intensity aerobic exercise compared with low intensity aerobic exercise and a no exercise control group on levels of anxiety, depression and well-being in younger adults (20-35 years of age) and older adults (60-75 years of age). This study relied upon a non-clinical sample of 120 participants, who ranged in age from 20--75 years old. These participants were randomly divided into 2 different intensity groups or a control group within their age bracket. Intensity levels were based upon whether the subject's heart rate was at a high level with 75-80% of the individual's age adjusted predicted maximal heart rate, or in the low intensity aerobic level with heart rates between 40-55% of the individual's age adjusted predicted maximal heart rate. The lower and upper bound for each individual's aerobic heart rate range was computed using the following formula: (220 -- age) x 0.50 (lower bound) or 0.80 (upper bound). The inclusion criterion consisted of participants being sedentary, as defined by exercising less than three times per week for less than 20 minutes per session for six months prior.;An ANOVA was employed to evaluate the group changes over the course of the twelve-week intervention. The study utilized empirically validated and reliable measures including the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory Forms Y-1 and Y-2, Beck Depression Inventory- Second edition and the PA scale of the PANAS, and were taken upon admission to the study, at week 4 within the exercise intervention, at week 8 which was the completion of the intervention and again at week 12 which was the 1-month follow-up. Mixed ANOVAs were used at post-test in order to evaluate and adjust for group differences.;Results for this study were inconclusive, as it did not portray any significant differences in state anxiety, trait anxiety and depression between the experimental groups. A Possible explanation for these findings may be due to the initially non-clinical nature of the study population, as is reflected in the noticeably low scores on the STAI, BDI and high scores on the PA scale of the PANAS. Results did indicate though that high-intensity exercise was beneficial but only in terms of psychological well-being for the younger adult participants and that low-intensity exercise was beneficial but only in terms of psychological well-being for the older adult participants.