PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To determine whether acute exercise reduces state anxiety and whether this reduction is moderated by the sample (ie, breast cancer survivors versus those without a cancer diagnosis), exercise intensity (ie, moderate versus light), and the potential sample times intensity interactions; and to explore whether changes in self-efficacy and state anxiety reciprocally predict each other as suggested by social cognitive theory. DESIGN: Repeated-measures, experimental pilot. SETTING: University laboratory. SAMPLE: Breast cancer survivors (n = 25) and age-matched women without a cancer diagnosis (n = 25). METHODS: Cycling for 20 minutes at light and moderate intensities on two separate occasions. State anxiety and self-efficacy measures were completed before, immediately following, and 10 minutes after exercise. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: State anxiety, self-efficacy, and light and moderate exercise. FINDINGS: 2 (sample) x 2 (intensity condition) x 3 (time) repeated-measure analyses of variance revealed a main effect for time (p < 0.01, eta2 = 0.37, F[2,86] = 24.687), but between-sample and exercise intensity interaction effects were not significant. Autoregressive path analysis using ordinary least squares multiple regression revealed significant reciprocation for self-efficacy and anxiety pre-exercise (light intensity beta = 0.49, p < 0.05; moderate intensity beta = -0.37, p < 0.05) and post-exercise (moderate intensity beta = -0.31, -0.23, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Acute exercise at light and moderate intensity decreases state anxiety for breast cancer survivors and those without a diagnosis. Additional research is warranted. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Light- and moderate-intensity exercise may be a valuable alternative anxiolytic tool that also allows for the acquisition of myriad additional known health benefits associated with exercise.

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