Effects of exercise on decision-making under stress

Abstract

Prolonged exposure to stress can be very damaging to an individual both physically and mentally. Stress can have a negative impact on thoughts, behaviors, and feelings. Stress can also inhibit a person’s ability to make decisions. Past studies have demonstrated that physical activity can combat the negative effects of stress on the mind and body. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether long-term exercise and immediate exercise can mitigate the effects of stress on decision-making. Participants were prescreened and categorized into physically active or sedentary groups. Both groups completed the cold pressor stressor task, after which half of each group exercised immediately on a stationary bike. All participants then completed a financial decision-making task. Blood pressure was recorded at various points during the procedure. It was hypothesized that those who were generally more physically active or who engaged in immediate exercise would respond more accurately on the financial decision-making task compared to those who were generally sedentary or those who did not exercise immediately prior to the task. An analysis of variance test indicated no statistically significant effects of either variable on decision-making. The results did not support the hypothesis. Separate comparisons of systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements did not reveal any statistically significant differences either. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed, including the impact of factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, sample size, age, and the use of automated blood pressure monitors.