The effects of music on female exercisers during a rowing task

Abstract

Music is commonly found in exercise settings. Much research exists examining the effects of music on the male population; however, very little research has been conducted on the female population. The framework for the benefits of music during exercise and sport states that music can increase positive affect, reduce perceptions of exertion, and improve physiological efficiency. The purpose of this study was to examine how preferred songs, researcher-selected songs from an international perspective (within a range of 130 to 170 bpm), and no music control affect female exercisers’ perceived exertion, enjoyment, attention allocation, and heart rate while performing a rowing exercise task. A total of 25 female participants (20.8 ± 1.87) completed a 15-minute rowing task in three musical conditions on an Aviron rowing machine at a preferred intensity. Sessions were completed in a preferred music condition, an international research selected music condition, and a no music control condition with 24 to 72 hours between each session. Measurements for rating of perceived exertion (RPE), attentional focus, feelings scale, and heart rate were collected at minute-0, minute-7.5, and minute-15. The perceived enjoyment questionnaire was administered post-exercise. Results found no significant differences between conditions for RPE, attentional allocation, and heart rate, although, participants reported significantly greater enjoyment in the preferred music condition than the researcher-selected condition (p = .03) and the no music control condition (p < .001). These results indicate female exercisers may not experience decreased RPE or increased dissociation, however, preferred music can increase exercise enjoyment. This research benefits female exercisers who want to employ preferred music during exercise and clinicians that want to prescribe exercise prescriptions for female patients.