Positive Affective and Enjoyment Responses to Four High-Intensity Interval Exercise Protocols

Several variables can be manipulated to compose high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) protocols, and these different combinations may evoke different psychological responses (affect, enjoyment, mood, and perceived exertion). This study investigated psychological responses during four HIIE protocols. Following anthropometric measurements and two maximal exercise tests, 23 physically inactive adults (11 males [Mage = 25.6, SD = 4.8 years; Mbody mass = 68.5, SD = 12.2 kg; Mheight = 1.72, SD = 0.08 m] and 12 females [Mage = 25.0, SD = 3.5 years; Mbody mass = 57.2, SD = 8.7 kg; Mheight = 1.59, SD = 0.06 m]) performed four different types of HIIE on different days: (a) Long-interval HIIE (HIIEL—10 × 60 seconds:60 seconds), (b) Short-interval HIIE (HIIES—2 blocks of 10 × 30 seconds:30 seconds with 120 seconds between blocks), (c) Repeated Sprint Training (19 × 6 seconds all out:40 seconds), and (d) Sprint Interval Training (4 × 30 seconds all-out efforts: 240 seconds). We used a final session to assess participants’ HIIE preference. We recorded participant reports of affect, mood, and perceived exertion throughout protocols, and we recorded enjoyment after exercise session. Perceived exertion significantly increased across all HIIE protocols (p