Degree Name
Master of Science
Department or Program
Kinesiology
Advisor
Jared Porter
Abstract
AN ABSTRACT OF THE RESEARCH PAPER OF
COLIN FANNON for the Masters of Science degree in Education in Kinesiology,
presented___________, at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.
TITLE: A STUDY OF EXERCISE ENVIRONMENT AND ITS EFFECT ON CHANGES IN MOOD: INDOORS VS OUTDOORS
MAJOR PROFESSOR: Jared M. Porter Ph.D.
Exercising in a green outdoor environment has been shown to have psychological and physiological benefits when compared to indoor, or non-green exercise environments. The purpose of this study was to determine whether positive mood traits could be enhanced during a group fitness type class in a green outdoor environment. Participants (n = 44) exercised in two separate groups with group A exercising indoors first and outdoors second, and in the opposite order for group B. Each group participated in a total for four exercise classes (two in each environment) and completed each class at their own pace. The Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List (AD-ACL) was administered before and after each exercise session to determine changes in mood. Based on previous research it was hypothesized that exercising in a green outdoor environment would better enhance positive changes in mood traits. Result revealed that only the feelings of elatedness and energized were significantly shown to be more enhanced by exercising in a green outdoor environment. Exercising in the outdoor environment did lead to more increases in positive mood traits and decreases in negative mood traits post-exercise yet only the moods of elatedness, energetic, and calmness were significant.