Mood alteration with swimming--swimmers really do "feel better"

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Aerobic exercise is known to impact mood.
• Previous research suggests exercise can alleviate negative psychological states.
• The specific effects of swimming on mood require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between swimming as an aerobic activity and mood changes in college students.
• To compare mood alterations in swimmers versus a control group.
• To investigate potential gender differences in mood response to swimming.

Main Methods:

• One hundred college students participated, assigned to swimming classes or lecture-control groups.
• The Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire was administered before and after sessions.
• A 5-way ANOVA was used to analyze mood changes.

Main Results:

• Swimmers reported significant reductions in tension, depression, anger, and confusion, alongside increased vigor post-exercise.
• Both novice and intermediate swimmers showed greater mood improvements than controls across most POMS scales.
• Contrary to existing literature, women reported significantly lower levels of negative mood states than men.

Conclusions:

• Swimming is an effective aerobic activity for enhancing mood and reducing psychological distress in college students.
• The findings support the use of swimming in therapeutic interventions for mental health.
• Swimming demonstrates consistent mood-boosting effects, irrespective of gender, challenging some prior research on gender-specific responses.