Finding the Feel-Good Zone: Psychological Responses to Exercise Intensity in Adults with Prediabetes
Keywords:
Prediabetes, Exercise Intensity, Psychological Response, Self-Efficacy, Affect, Motivation, Physical Activity AdherenceAbstract
Prediabetes affects a growing global population and significantly increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. While physical activity is a proven preventive strategy, adherence is often limited by psychological responses to exercise. This study aimed to examine how different exercise intensities influence psychological outcomes in adults with prediabetes. A randomized, within-subject crossover design was employed involving 25 adults with prediabetes (aged 25–55 years). Each participant completed four supervised treadmill sessions at 50%, 60%, 70%, and 80% of their predicted maximum heart rate (PMHR), in randomized order. Each session consisted of a 5-minute warm-up, a 30-minute main exercise bout, and a 5-minute cool-down. Psychological outcomes assessed post-exercise included the Exercise Enjoyment Scale (EES), Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES), self-efficacy, rate of perceived exertion (RPE), Feeling Scale (FS), energy and fatigue, and the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant main effect of intensity on enjoyment (EES), F (3,72) = 156.68, p < 0.001. Psychological responses—including enjoyment, self-efficacy, positive affect, and intrinsic motivation—increased progressively with exercise intensity, peaking at 70–80% PMHR. RPE also rose significantly, confirming the effectiveness of intensity manipulation. Moderate-to-high intensity sessions yielded the most favorable affective and motivational responses, while fatigue increased only modestly. Moderate-to-high intensity exercise (70–80% PMHR) elicits the most beneficial psychological responses in adults with prediabetes, including enhanced enjoyment, confidence, and intrinsic motivation. These findings support tailoring exercise prescriptions to include higher intensities, with appropriate supervision, to enhance both psychological and metabolic outcomes and promote long-term adherence.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Inayat Shah, Fazeelat Hajra Kareem, Saman Tauqir
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