Acute High-Intensity Exercise Improves Mood during the Second Trimester of Pregnancy

Purpose: High-intensity exercise is safe and effective for low-risk pregnant women and their developing babies; however, little is known about the psychological effect of an acute bout of high-intensity exercise among pregnant women. The goal of this study is to examine maternal mood in response to an acute bout of high-intensity exercise. Methods: Twenty-six pregnant women (18-24 wks gestational age) completed the BRUMS-32 Profile of Mood Survey and Subjective Exercise Experience Scale (SEES). Surveys were administered before and after an acute bout of high-intensity treadmill exercise. Data were entered into SPSS for statistical analysis. Results: According to the BRUMS-32 Profile of Mood Survey, Total Mood Distress index scores among pregnant women improved significantly after the high-intensity exercise session (pre: -23.2 ± 11.8 vs. post: -29.0 ± 10.3, p = 0.011). When examined as individual categories, pregnant women reported an increase in “Vigor” (9.7 ± 3.1 vs. 12.3 ± 2.7, p < 0.001), a decrease in “Tension” (2.3 ± 2.8 vs. 0.6 ± 1.0, p = 0.004), and a decrease in “Anger” (0.7 ± 1.4 vs. 0.1 ± 0.4, p = 0.049) [pre vs. post-exercise] on the BRUMS-32 Survey after high-intensity exercise. In response to the Subjective Exercise Experience Scale, pregnant women’s scores for the general category “Positive Well-Being” increased post-exercise (20.8 ± 3.7 vs. 22.6 ± 3.9, p = 0.015), and individual scores for “Strong” increased (4.5 ± 1.1 vs. 5.2 ± 1.3, p = 0.003) and “Discouraged” decreased (1.6 ± 0.9 vs. 1.2 ± 0.5, p = 0.03) post-exercise. Conclusion: High-intensity exercise during pregnancy resulted in improvements in mood; thus, high-intensity exercise may be an effective option for prescribing exercise in pregnant women.