The purpose of this study was to examine psychological affect at different ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) in 15 high- and 15 low-active women. Both groups performed three steady-state exercise bouts on a cycle ergometer at RPEs 9, 13, and 17 and reported their affect in the last 20 sec. of and 5 min. after each work rate. There were no differences between groups in percentage of maximal oxygen uptake (% VO2max) at each RPE. Low-active women reported feeling significantly more negative at RPE 17 than RPE 9 and less positive than the high-active women at RPEs 9, 13, and 17. In addition, all subjects reported more positive feelings 5 min. postexercise than in the last 20 sec. of exercising, especially at RPE 17. These results have implications for exercise prescription in groups differing in habitual activity levels.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
American College of Sports Medicine. (1990) The recommended quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiovascular and muscular fitness in healthy adults. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 22, 265–274.
2.
ÅstrandP. O. (1988) Work tests with the bicycle ergometer. Varberg, Sweden: Monark Crescent AB.
3.
BoutcherS. H.SeipR. L.HetzlerR. K.PierceE. F.SneadD.WeltmanA. (1989) The effects of specificity of training on rating of perceived exertion at the lactate threshold. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 59, 365–369.
4.
BorgG. A. V. (1970) Perceived exertion as an indicator of somatic stress. Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 2–3, 92–98.
5.
DemelloJ. J.CuretonK. J.BoineauR. E.SinghM. M. (1987) Ratings of perceived exertion at the lactate threshold in trained and untrained men and women. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 19, 354–362.
6.
DishmanR. K.FarquharR. P.CuretonK. J. (1994) Responses to preferred intensities of exertion in men differing in activity levels. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 26, 783–790.
7.
DunbarC. C.RobertsonR. J.BavinR.BlandinM. F.MetzR. K.BurdettR.GossF. L. (1992) The validity of regulating exercise intensity by ratings of perceived exertion. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 24, 94–99.
8.
EkblomB.GoldbargA. N. (1971) The influence of physical training and other factors in the subjective rating of perceived exertion. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica, 83, 399–406.
9.
EstonR. G.DaviesB.WilliamsJ. G. (1987) Use of perceived effort ratings to control exercise intensity in young, healthy adults. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 56, 222–224.
10.
EstonR. G.WilliamsJ. G. (1988) Reliability of ratings of perceived effort for the regulation of exercise intensity. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 22, 153–154.
11.
HardyC. J.RejeskiW. J. (1989) Not what, but how one feels: The measurement of affect during exercise. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 11, 304–317.
12.
LeventhalH.EverhartD. (1979) Emotion, pain, and physical illness. In IzardC. E. (Ed.), Emotions in personality and psychopathology. New York: Plenum. Pp. 263–298.
13.
MosesJ.SteptoeA.MathewsA.EdwardsS. (1989) The effects of exercise training on mental well-being in the normal population: A controlled trial. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 33, 47–61.
14.
ParfittG.EstonR. G. (1995a) Changes in rating of perceived exertion and psychological affect in the early stages of exercise. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 80, 259–266.
15.
ParfittG.EstonR. G. (1995b) How to help low-active women feel better about exercising. In Vanfraechem-RawayR.Vanden AuweeleY. (Eds.), IXth European Congress on Sport Psychology. Leuvin: Belgian Federation of Sport Psychology. Pp. 876–882.
16.
ParfittG.MarklandD.HolmesC. (1994) Responses to physical exertion in active and inactive males and females. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 16, 178–186.
17.
ReieskiW. J.BestD.GriffithP.KenneyE. (1987) Sex-role orientation and the responses of men to exercise stress. Research Quarterly, 58, 260–264.
18.
RobertsonR. J.GillespieR. L.McArthyJ.RoseK. D. (1979) Differentiated perceptions of exertion: Part 1. Mode of integration and regional signals. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 49, 683–689.
19.
WilliamsJ. G.EstonR. G. (1996) Exercise intensity regulation. In EstonR. G.ReillyT. (Eds.), Kinanthropometry and exercise physiology laboratory manual: Tests, procedures, and data. London: E. & F.N. Spon. Pp. 221–235.
