The Effects of Park and Urban Settings on the Moods and Cognitive Strategies of Female Runners.

While numerous studies in the field of environmental psychology have investigated the effects of recreating in urban and natural settings on psychological variables, no research has involved exercise in these environments. The present study was designed to examine the complex relationship between mood and feeling states, cognitive strategies, and exercise environment. Thirty non-elite female runners completed a 4-mile run in an urban setting and a vegetated park setting, and completed measures to assess run setting preference, as well as mood and feeling states. Mood was measured using the Profile of Mood States (POMS; McNair, Lorr, & Droppleman, 1971), and feeling states were assessed using the Exercise-Induced Feeling Inventory (EFI; Gauvin & Rejeski, 1993). Cognitions while running were also assessed using the Thoughts During Running Scale (TDRS; Goode & Roth, 1993). Repeated measures ANOVAs determined that mood and feeling states significantly improved following the run, and that there were no significant differences in mood improvement between settings, despite the part setting being overwhelmingly preferred (93%) by participants. Pearson product-moment correlational analyses revealed a significant relationship between dissociative thoughts pertaining to interpersonal relationships, daily events, and spiritual reflection, and mood improvement in the urban setting. Results are discussed as they relate to the existing environmental and exercise psychology literature, and in terms of their relevance to safety issues in different run environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]