TO:

Dr. Josephine Pirrone

FROM:

Kace McKenna Winters

DATE:

February 29, 2016

SUBJECT:

Proposal Part II

This memo contains the proposed empirical study for the topic based on the relationship between mood
and exercise. Exercise has been shown to increase and decrease mood, recognized as temporary states of
mind, by many researchers; however, it is unclear what type and what kind of exercise intensity initiates
mood response. This empirical study wishes to look at four questions. First, will perception of exercise
increase or decrease post-exercise mood? Second, will exercise intensity increase or decrease postexercise mood? Third, will exercise type increase or decrease post-exercise mood? Lastly, do subjects
perceive benefits of mood, their state of mind, from exercise?
The changes in mood will be evaluated using the Brunel Mood Questionnaire, as it is online for general
public use. The BRUMS is a 24-item questionnaire that contains the mood descriptors such as angry,
nervous, unhappy, and energetic. The BRUMS has six subscales, with each of the subscales containing
four mood descriptors. The subscales are anger, confusion, depression, fatigue, tension, and vigour.
Participants will answer using a 5-point Likert scale, where 0 = Not at all, 1 = A little, 2 =
Moderately, 3 = Quite a bit, and 4 = Extremely. The BRUMS typically takes 1-2 minutes to
complete, and asses how participants feel at a given point (i.e. right now). Participants will fill out this
questionnaire before and after exercise.
The target population for this survey is students at The Pennsylvania State University. This group of
students will be those collected via people known to go to the gym, people at the gym who will be asked
to participate, and from specific classes. Those classes that will be asked to participate include:
Biobehavioral Health 411W, English 202A, Biology 141, Biobehavioral Health / Health and Policy
Administration 440, and Biobehavioral Health 316. Surveys will be sent out to students via the Angel
communicate upon permission of the editors of the classes. These students will open the survey,
download it onto the survey to desktop, respond to survey, save the survey with the responses, and then
respond to the initial email with a document attached. This study population should be useful as the
classes are based on health and health promotion, and upon in class surveys, many students participate in
regular exercise.
There is no ideal sample size, although there will need to be enough participants who regularly go to the
gym and perform the tasks involved with the survey questions. The survey will be sent to a large mass of
people; however, one can only assume that the majority will not reply, or not give what is needed to
observe and come up with a conclusion. Most of the information needed to be obtained is collectable via
forced choice items; however, there should be a space provided for further comment in case the questions
are not applicable.
Participants are at no risk from participating in this survey. These participants specific characteristics are
not necessary, and they will not need to fill out any consent forms as their information is not going to be
used. This study is only concerned about the individuals responses.

Appendix A
The Mood and Exercise Project
*Before taking the questionnaire, please be advised as to what type of information you are being
asked. If at any time the first two questions do not pertain to you, you may simply stop
participating. Furthermore, it is crucial that one clearly identifies the type, and the intensity of
training for the purpose of this survey. Please underline your responses to each question.
1. Do you participate in weight bearing exercise? (Yes / No)
*If you answered yes, please answer the following question as noted by a. If you answered no, simply go to question 2.

a. Does your training intensity vary between light, medium, intense? (Yes / No)
i. Light and intense will work.

2. Do you participate in cardiovascular training? (Yes / No)

*If you answered yes, please answer the following question as noted by a. If you answered no, simply go to question 2.

a. Does your training intensity vary between light, medium, intense? (Yes / No)
i. Light and intense will work.

If you answered yes to either 1 or 2, please complete the questionnaire before and after your
exercise. Be sure to identify your training as: W (weight bearing) or C (cardiovascular), and L
(light), M (medium), I (intense).

The Brunel Mood Scale Questionnaire

Below is a list of words that describe feelings people have based on HOW YOU FEEL RIGHT
NOW. Make sure you respond to every word. Please use the table to input your responses
according to the questionnaire.

tempered
7. Bitter
8. Calm
9. Cheerful
10. Composed
11. Confused
12. Contented
13. Depresse
d
14. Downhear
ted
15. Energetic
16. Exhausted
17. Happy
18. Lively
19. Miserable
20. Nervous
21. Panicky
22. Relaxed
23. Restful
24. Satisfied
25. Sleepy
26. Tired
27. Uncertain
28. Unhappy
29. Worn-out
30. Worried
31. Mixed-up
32. Muddled

0
0
0
0
0
0

1
1
1
1
1
1

2
2
2
2
2
2

3
3
3
3
3
3

4
4
4
4
4
4

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3

4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4

1. Active
2. Alert
3. Angry
4. Annoyed
5. Anxious
6. Bad
tempered
7. Bitter
8. Calm
9. Cheerful
10. Composed
11. Confused
12. Contented
13. Depresse
d
14. Downhear
ted
15. Energetic
16. Exhausted
17. Happy
18. Lively
19. Miserable
20. Nervous
21. Panicky
22. Relaxed
23. Restful
24. Satisfied
25. Sleepy
26. Tired
27. Uncertain
28. Unhappy
29. Worn-out
30. Worried
31. Mixed-up
32. Muddled

0
0
0
0
0

Extremely

Quite a bit

yModeratel

A little

Not at all

Extremely

Quite a bit

A little

Do you feel that your exercise

(Increased / Decreased) your mood?
a. Please mention exercise type (W
or C) and intensity (L, M, I).
1.4. Active
0 that
1 your
2 mood
3
4was
Do you think
2. Alert
0
1
2
3
4
(Positively0/ Negatively)
by
3. Angry
1
2
3influenced
4
your
exercise?
4. Annoyed
0
1
2
3
4
5. Anxious
0
1
2 exercise
3
4 type (W
a. Please
mention
6. Bad
or C)
0 and
1 intensity
2
3 (L,4 M, I).
Not at all

3.

After
yModeratel

Before

1
1
1
1
1

2
2
2
2
2

3
3
3
3
3

4
4
4
4
4

0
0
0
0
0
0

1
1
1
1
1
1

2
2
2
2
2
2

3
3
3
3
3
3

4
4
4
4
4
4

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3

4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4