Edinburgh Napier University

  Inter-individual cognitive factors have been shown to be related to the changes in affect evaluations during continuous high-intensity exercise in adolescents, but the role of cognitive factors on affect during high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) is currently unknown. This study evaluated the influence of personality traits (behavioral activation system; BAS and behavioral inhibition system; BIS) and self-efficacy on affect, enjoyment and perceived exertion during HIIE in adolescents. Participants (n = 30; 15 boys; mean age = 12.2 ± 0.4 years; moderate to vigorous physical activity levels per day = 33 ± 12 min) were median split into low vs. high BAS/BIS and self-efficacy groups. All participants performed HIIE consisting of 8 × 1-min work-intervals at 85% of peak power separated by 75 s recovery. Affect, enjoyment, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded 5 min before HIIE, near the end of the HIIE work intervals, and 20 min after HIIE. The high BAS/low BIS group elicited greater affect and enjoyment compared to low BAS/high BIS group during work-intervals 5–8 (all p  0.59) and after HIIE for post-enjoyment (all p  0.95). Affect and enjoyment were greater in high compared to low self-efficacy group during work-intervals 5–8 (all p  0.62). The BAS/BIS groups elicited similar RPE (all p > 0.10), but RPE was lower in high than low self-efficacy group at work-intervals 5–8 (all p  0.98). Individual differences in personality and self-efficacy may influence the affective, enjoyment and RPE responses during HIIE in adolescents.

Lay summary: This study aimed to evaluate the role of personality characteristics and self-efficacy on perceptual responses (pleasure/displeasure and enjoyment) during HIIE in youth. Individual differences in personality characteristics and self-efficacy may decrease or increase the likelihood that a person will experience pleasurable feelings and enjoyment to HIIE in youth.