Mood states and strength training

The present study investigated the effects of strength training on mood states and feelings of collegiate female softball and male football players. Eighteen collegiate softball players and 12 men football players from William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey participated in the study. The softball players participated across three consecutive weeks, one session per week. The men football players participated in the study for one session. All of the athletes participated in the strength training sessions in the fall semester of 2012. The softball and football players were asked to respond to a Profile of Mood States (POMS) and a Feelings Scale pre- and post-weight training session, and a measure of exercise intensity called the OMNI test for each exercise session.;The present study showed that after a strength training session, collegiate women softball players enhanced positively their mood and feelings. Collegiate men football players did not have significant changes in mood and feelings after a single strength exercise session. OMNI-RES showed that the men football players worked out with a significantly higher intensity than women softball players. The intensity of exercise might have played a role on the results.;This study provides evidence that women benefit from changes in mood and feelings as a result of strength training.