Anticipatory heart rate response of subjects of varying levels of anxiety and physical fitness

Abstract

Purpose [line break] The purpose of this investigation was to determine possible differences in anticipatory response of the heart immediately preceding the start of an exercise bout for groups differing in levels of anxiety and physical fitness. More specifically, the objectives of this study were to investigate the difference in anticipatory response between: 1. groups of subjects possessing high and low anxiety levels 2. groups of subjects possessing high and low physical fitness levels 3. subjects when treatments were compared 4. groups of subjects possessing varying combinations of anxiety levels, physical fitness levels, and treatments. [Line break] Procedure [line break] Twenty-four male freshmen served as subjects. The 24 were selected from 658 freshmen on the basis of scores on the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale (T.M.A.S.) and the Astrand-Ryhming prediction test for maximal oxygen consumption. The T.M.A.S. was administered to 658 freshmen. Eighty of the students scored nine or lower and comprised the low anxiety group. Eighty-one students scored above .26 on the T.M.A.S. and comprised the high anxiety group. Scores from a modified Harvard Step Test were used to screen the two anxiety groups for fitness levels. Fifteen subjects who scored high fit and 15 subjects who scored low fit on the step test were selected from the high anxiety group. The same procedure was followed with the low anxiety group. This resulted in the following four groups of 15 subjects each: 1. high anxiety-high fit 2. high anxiety-low fit 3. low anxiety-high fit 4. low anxiety-low fit. ...