Physical activity level and perceived exertion predict in-task affective valence to low-volume high-intensity...

Previous results reveal a decline in affective valence in response to progressive exercise in adults. However, this similar decline is not universally observed in response to high intensity interval exercise (HIIE), which may be due to its intermittent nature. The aim of the current study was to examine potential predictors of the in-task affective valence to low-volume HIIE (LV-HIIE; 10 × 60 s high-intensity intervals at 90% of maximal treadmill velocity interspersed by 60 s at 30% of maximal treadmill velocity). We analyzed data from 76 males (age and body mass index = 26.5 ± 4.4 yr and 27.3 ± 5.4 kg/m²) who had participated in previous investigations in our lab. Throughout each session, affective valence (Feeling Scale; + 5 to -5), rating of perceived exertion (RPE; Borg scale 6 to 20), and heart rate (HR) were measured. The predictors of in-task affective valence were analyzed during different phases of the LV-HIIE session (i.e. beginning, average of high-intensity intervals 1-3; middle, average of high-intensity intervals 4-7; and end, average of high-intensity intervals 8-10). Results showed a significant decline in affective valence (p < 0.001), increase in RPE (p < 0.001) and HR (p < 0.001) in response to LV-HIIE. Primary predictors of in-task affective valence to LV-HIIE were physical activity level and RPE (beginning, R² = 0.511, p < 0.001; middle, R² = 0.681, p < 0.001; end, R² = 0.742, p = 0.008). In conclusion, physical activity level and perceived exertion significantly predict the in-task affective valence to LV-HIIE in adult males.