Psychological benefits of exercising with another

This study sought to determine whether exercising with another person improves the psychological benefits of exercise relative to exercising alone. One hundred and fifty-five participants completed a series of questionnaires measuring levels of tension, calmness, energy and tiredness before exercise, immediately following exercise and later that day before bedtime. Participants exercised on a stationary laboratory bicycle for 30min either alone, with another person of the same sex or with a person of the opposite sex. Results suggest that exercising alone or with others did not differentially impact upon mood. All groups equally experienced mood benefits after exercising. Depression was found to be positively correlated with perceived exertion and women were found to report greater exertion when exercising alone than when exercising in mixed pairs.