The effects of affect-guided interval training on pleasure, enjoyment, and autonomy: A registered report

This registered report tested the effects of a novel exercise protocol, namely affect-guided interval training, on motivationally relevant variables of remembered pleasure, forecasted pleasure, enjoyment, and autonomy. Affect-guided interval training (AIT) consisted of 60-s intervals that alternated between the highest pleasant intensity and lowest pleasant intensity for 20 min; this was intended to minimize the potential displeasure of traditional high-intensity interval training. The novel protocol was compared to self-selected exercise intensity (30 min) and high-intensity interval training (60-s intervals for 20 min). All sessions were, on average, vigorous in intensity (80-89% peak heart rate). Data indicate that the AIT session was experienced as the most pleasant, had the most pleasant slope of affect, was remembered as the most pleasant, resulted in the most positive affective forecasts, and was the most enjoyable. Both the affect-guided interval session and self-selected exercise session resulted in greater autonomy than high-intensity interval training. Several evaluative and motivationally relevant variables, including (a) remembered pleasure, (b) enjoyment, and (c) forecasted pleasure were predicted by (a) experienced pleasure, the (b) pleasure experienced at the end of exercise, and (c) the slope of pleasure experienced throughout the exercise session. Overall, this study suggests that affect-guided interval training is a feasible and positive alternative that can be included as a viable option for exercise programming.