Associations between expected and observed psychological responses to acute resistance exercise in analogue generalized anxiety disorder

The role of expectations in psychological responses to acute resistance exercise (RE) is largely unknown. This study quantified associations between expectations regarding psychological responses to exercise and observed state anxiety and mood responses after acute RE among adults with and without Analogue Generalized Anxiety Disorder (AGAD). Acute RE was nested into week one of an eight-week RCT of RE among 56 young adults with AGAD (n = 25) and non-AGAD (n = 31). 23 young adults were randomized to the intervention group and 33 to seated quiet rest. State anxiety and mood were measured pre and 10 min-post acute RE or seated quiet rest (QR). Expectations were measured pre acute RE or QR. Spearman’s rho quantified associations between expectations and mood responses. There were no associations in the acute RE sample between expectations of psychological outcomes and experienced psychological outcomes (all rho: -0.05 to 0.16) and the QR sample (all rho: -0.07 to 0.22). The measurement of Expected Psychological Outcomes of Exercise (EPOE) was not specific to RE modality alone, possibly influencing participants’ responses. These preliminary findings suggest that post-acute RE mood responses are independent from expectations of psychological outcomes, which is paramount when promoting RE as a potential treatment/therapeutic option to improve mood. Future research should focus on expectations of psychological responses specifically to acute and chronic RE.