The effect of therapeutic recreation activities on students' appraisals of their emotions during academically demanding times
Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: Adolescent and young adult university students' decreasing physical activity \nlevels impact considerably on their psychological stress levels. Acute and \nlong-term bouts of exercise can reduce psychological stress (Taylor, 2000). \nIn this study the Leisure-time Exercise Questionnaire and Positive Affect \nNegative Affect Scale were used to determine students' physical activity levels \nand emotional states before their first and second test weeks, in order to \nascertain the effect of therapeutic recreational activities on their appraisals of \ntheir feelings and emotions during academically demanding times. The \nrecreational therapy was presented between these test weeks. Results \nindicated that both the physical activity levels and the emotional state of the \nexperimental group improved. Future studies could include determining which \nrecreation activity has the greatest therapeutic effect while better controlling \nparticipants in both groups. In view of its potential value for relieving stress, \ntherapeutic recreation could be used as a technique in relieving stress prior to \ntests and examinations.
Language: English
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2269941017