Mood and Affective State Response to an Acute Bout of Non-Combative Boxing Training

Abstract

The purpose was to examine the influence of non-combative boxing training on mood and affective states. Initially, 54 students, age 18 to 24, volunteered for participation; 43 completed the study. Participants were assigned to either the non-combative boxing training group or the control group, which viewed a health-related video. The Profile of Mood States (POMS) was administered before and after each intervention to measure mood states while the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) was administered before and after each intervention to measure affective states. Pre-intervention differences between the experimental group and the control group were detected on Anger, Depression and Negative Affect. Post-intervention, the experimental group experienced reductions in Depression, Confusion, and Negative Affect and increases in Vigor and Positive Affect. It was concluded that positive changes to mood and affective states are a consequence of participation in non-combative boxing training.