Research Impact: Expectations for psychological responses to exercise may influence anxiety responses to exercise, particularly as mechanisms of placebo/nocebo effects, but remain poorly studied. Thus, we explored the interplay between expectations and physical activity among 470 young adults with and without analogue Generalized Anxiety Disorder (AGAD). Expected exercise-induced changes, particularly for psychological well-being and relaxation, significantly differed based on AGAD and activity statuses; these were small magnitude differences, however. Expected improvements in anxious mood, depressed mood, and psychological well-being were associated with higher activity levels, and expected improvements in anxious mood explained a significant, but small, amount of variance in physical activity.
Herring MP, Gordon BR, Murphy J, Lyons M, Lindheimer JB (2022). Physical activity and analogue generalized anxiety disorder status among young adults: Potential role of exercise expectations. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, DOI: 10.1007/s12529-022-10081-x. (IF: 2.229; C=; Q2 Clinical Psychology; R=85/130).
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