An empirical test of the interaction model of anxiety in an acute exercise setting

In the present study, the interaction model of anxiety was assessed by measuring both state anxiety (Astate) and trait anxiety (A-trait) of a moderately active community sample (n=44) in a non-stressful (pre-exercise) and stressful (post-exercise) situation. The physical danger facet (PD) of A-trait was examined to determine how it interacts with a congruent physically dangerous situation (i.e. a VO_2max fitness test which involves cycling on a bicycle ergometer until volitional exhaustion) in inducing A-state arousal. As hypothesized, high PD A-Trait participants experienced larger increases in A-State than low PD A-Trait participants, proceeding from the non-stress to high-stress condition F (1,27)=3.94, P<0.05 (eta²=0.13). Furthermore, participants high and low on A-Trait social evaluation, daily routines, and ambiguous experienced similar increases in state anxiety suggesting that these types of A-Trait were not relevant to this exercise context. Therefore, it appears that the interactional model of anxiety is a useful theoretical tool that can be used to explain state anxiety changes associated with acute exercise.