Effect Of Fitness Sport Activities On Subjective Experiencing And Psychological States

Abstract

Psychological state is a dynamic feature, which can be characterised by a variability of psychological activation and emotional frame of mind (experiencing). The research study works on an assumption that leisure time fitness sport activities can influence subjective experiencing and psychological states. Fitness sport activities integrate both physical and psychological factors. Purpose of the study was to determine the effect of fitness activities on subjective psychological experiences and states. The selected fitness activities include aerobic group exercise, body and mind group exercise, and individual gym training. 101 university students (age 19-23) participated in the research. The method for evaluation of structure and dynamics of subjective experiences and psychological states was a standardized questionnaire (SUPSO). The change was indicated by proportional representation of positive and negative components. Statistical significance of difference between pretest and posttest was evaluated by Wilcoxon pair test (p < 0.05). Structure and dynamics of subjective experiences and psychological states was changed significantly (p < 0.05) between pretest and posttest, in the evaluated fitness activities (aerobic group exercise, body and mind group exercise, individual gym training). The change was represented by proportional representation of positive and negative components (psychological wellbeing, activeness, impulsiveness, discomfort and restlessness, anxious expectations, and sadness). Effect of fitness sport activities can merge into a positive well-being, due to a full concentration on the activity itself, and harmony of body and mind. Fitness activities significantly influenced subjective psychological experiences and states, in terms of increasing positive and decreasing negative components. It is recommended to verify the effect in a wider variety of fitness sport activities.

Keywords: “Well-being”“Physical Activity”“Experiencing”“Exercise”

Introduction

Optimal physical activity may enhance health and quality of life. Health is comprehended in a

wide sense, as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. Health is a dynamic condition

resulting from continuous adjustment and adaptation in response to factors of stress, and variability of

external factors of the environment. Regular leisure time physical activity is recommended to be a part of

a healthy lifestyle and develop health-oriented physical fitness, focused on harmonious motor

development and positive motion experiencing. The research study focuses on a relation of physical

activity and mental well-being, as mentioned above. Changes in mental well-being and psychological

experiencing have been investigated in recent research. Positive changes in relation to physical activity

have been investigated e. g. in running (Sato, Jordan & Funk, 2014), high-intensity interval training

(Costigan et. al, 2016), yoga (Park, Riley & Braun, 2016), and dance (Goulimaris et al., 2014; and

Campion & Levita, 2014).

Fitness sport activities

Fitness sport activities can be subsumed under all-round and fitness exercises in the system of

gymnastics, as illustrated in figure 01 . In a wide sense it is an open system of physical exercises, which

are characterized by deliberate coordinated movements of all the body and its segments, flowing in a

harmonious composition. Novotná (2005) analyzed and evaluated definitions and knowledge in the field

of gymnastics published in the Czech Republic, where the systematization of gymnastics has great

tradition. She describes gymnastics as a system of consciously performed physical activities that aim to

affect the state of motor system, the level of physical fitness, and motion expression.

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Fitness sport activities are divided in group and individual exercise. Individual exercise is an

individualized exercise usually performed in the gym on one’s own, using both exercising machines and

function training with a body weight and various aids (balance balls, kettlebells, bosu, TRX etc.). Group

exercise (classes with an instructor) can be further divided according to the main aim and the content into

aerobic (or cardio) exercise, resistance exercise and body and mind.

The main sense of leisure physical activities lays in physical and mental relaxation, maintaining and

improving health, fitness and performance, physical development and self-confidence.

The importance and benefits can be described in the levels of effect on man:

�physical aspect (motor abilities and skills, posture, muscle strengthening and stabilization -

physical fitness and health),

�psychological aspect (control and management of emotions - confidence, self-esteem,

experiencing - psychological health, emotions as self-feelings, embodied feelings, mental

states),

�and social aspect (social psyching-up – interpersonal experience).

Velínská (2004) described the fields of benefits to physical function in: fitness (aerobic and

muscular fitness), compensation (muscle imbalances compensation, posture improvement) and

coordination (development of space-time orientation, assembling simple movements into complex units,

ability to achieve a target through one’s own body).

As mentioned above, fitness activities can affect not only physical development, but also

psychological and social development of a man. This study concerns particularly with the changes in

subjective psychological experiencing.

Problem Statement

Půža and Komeštík (2012) emphasized the current trend in the field of physical activity, focused

on such sport activities, which are based on positive and meaningful experiences. Experiencing is

connected to physical load, satisfaction of performance and proving one’s own physical and mental

strength. Experiencing and responsive behaviour can be determined by its speed, intensity and

coordination (Mikšík, 2004).

A general key feature of every situational change is a dynamic change of psychological state. A

psychological state was characterized by Mikšík (2004) as a state of coping with individual differences,

expressed by proportional representation of the given components. Both positive and negative

components normally exist in typical mutual relations, through which individual differences can be

characterized, in their psychological activations and their prevailing psychological states.

Research Questions

The research study deals with fitness sport activities and possible psychological effects in

experiencing common feelings of individuals. It was assumed that the fitness activities would change

subjective psychological experiences and states in terms of a positive change (increase in positive

components and decrease in negative components.)

Purpose of the Study

Fitness sport activities integrate both physical and psychological factors. The research study was

carried out to evaluate experiencing and current feelings of individuals, and their possible changes in

terms of effect of the selected fitness activities on subjective psychological experiences and states. The

selected fitness activities included aerobic group exercise (represented by jumping and interval core

training), body and mind group exercise (represented by pilates and health exercise), and individual gym

training.

Research Methods

The research was carried out as a quasi-experiment with an empirical, causal design. The data were

processed by quantitative analysis.

Findings

The significance of the difference was tested in statistical analysis (Wilcoxon pair test, p < 0.05),

regarding 2 positive components and 5 negative components of psychological state. Increase of positive

components was verified by means of the 2 indicators (P - psychological well-being, and A – Activeness).

In the component of Activeness, there was a significant difference between pre-test and post-test in all

three selected fitness activities. In the component of Psychological well-being, the difference was

significant for body and mind and for individual gym exercise. The overall results support the influence

of fitness sport activities on increase of positive components of psychological state.

Decrease of negative components was verified by means of the 5 indicators (I -impulsiveness, Di -

discomfort and restlessness, De – depression and exhaustion, F - fears and anxious expectations, and S –

sadness). In all three selected fitness activities a significant difference was shown in the components of

Impulsiveness, Discomfort and restlessness, Fears and anxious expectations, and Sadness. However, the

component of Depression and exhaustion showed a significant difference only for body and mind

exercise. The overall results support the influence of fitness sport activities on decrease of negative

components of psychological state.

Conclusion

The purpose of the study was to evaluate possible effects of fitness sport activities on subjective

experiences and psychological state. The selected fitness activities included aerobic group exercise, body

and mind and individual gym exercise. All the evaluated fitness activities showed a significant difference

in positive (comfort) components and negative (discomfort) components. The findings suggest that

convenient fitness sport activities can have a positive influence on subjective experiencing and

psychological states and thus enhance participants’ quality of life. However, further research is

recommended in terms of engaging a control group and in wider variety of fitness sport activities.

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