Mood state changes of students enrolled in physical activity classes

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sports Science
• Emotional Well-being

Background:

• Understanding the psychological impact of physical activity is crucial for promoting holistic student development.
• Regular exercise is often associated with improved mood, but empirical evidence in academic settings requires further exploration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of a 7-week physical activity course on the mood states of university students.
• To determine if participation in physical activity influences happiness and sadness levels.
• To compare mood state changes between male and female students.

Main Methods:

• Seventy-four students in physical activity classes completed the Emotional Assessment Scale (happiness and sadness subscales) weekly for seven weeks.
• A repeated measures analysis of variance was employed to analyze mood state score changes over time.
• Demographic data, including gender, were collected for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant changes were observed in the mean mood state scores of students over the 7-week duration.
• Student emotional states remained consistently positive (fairly happy) throughout the course.
• Women consistently reported significantly happier scores compared to men across the study period.

Conclusions:

• Participation in a 7-week physical activity course did not lead to significant mood state alterations in students.
• Physical activity may contribute to maintaining a baseline level of happiness, irrespective of structured mood change.
• Gender differences in reported happiness levels exist within the context of physical activity participation.