PSYCHOLOGY MASTER'S THESIS ABSTRACT

Joaquin Castro

MA-Research
Winter 2009

The Effect of Different Levels of Rhythmic Movement Set to Music on Tension Reduction and Energy Increase: Mood Alterations During Jazzercise Classes

    The present study examined the effect of rhythmic movement on reported levels of energy and tension. Participants were members of a Jazzercise class who completed a self-report measure of rhythmic movement and the AD ACL, a transitory measure of energy and tension. Measures were completed before and after class sessions over a four week period. Following a theory that rhythmic movement and tension are incompatible, it was expected that when participants report higher rhythmic movement they will report lower levels of tension, and higher levels of energy. Contrary to expectations there was no significant difference in levels of tension or energy when comparing the reported high and low rhythmic movement scores of participants. However, comparisons of pretest and posttest showed an increase in both energy and tension following Jazzercise. While the tension increase is inconsistent with expectations; the energy increase was expected.

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