Mirrors and Resistance Exercise, Do They Influence Affective Responses?

• Published in: Journal of health psychology Vol. 14; no. 8; pp. 1067 - 1074
• Main Authors: Chmelo, Elizabeth A., Hall, Eric E., Miller, Paul C., Sanders, Kristin N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.11.2009; Sage Publications
• Subjects: Affect; Affective responses; Arousal; Biological and medical sciences; Body Image; Exercise; Exercise - psychology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Illness and personality; Mirrors; Personality, behavior and health; Psychology and medicine; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Resistance; Resistance Training; Self Concept; Selfevaluation; Social Environment; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult; environment; resistance exercise; mirrors; affect; circumplex model; Human; Physical exercise; Affect affectivity; Environmental factor; Experimental study; Woman; Mirror
• ISSN: 1359-1053; 1461-7277
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105309342300

The purpose of this study was to examine affective responses during and following resistance exercise in a mirrored environment. Thirty-two females completed three sessions. During session one, exercise intensity was determined for the subsequent two sessions. During the next two sessions participants performed eight exercises either with or without mirrors. Affect was measured prior to, during, immediately following and 15 minutes post-exercise. Affect was more pleasant and activated during and following exercise, but did not differ by condition. The inability to find a difference in mirrored condition may be a result of participants using the mirrors for technique as opposed to self-evaluation purposes.