Open Access

ARTICLE

The Acute Effects of Aerobic Dance Exercise with and without Face Mask Use on Attention, Perceived Exertion and Mood States

by Maamer Slimani^1,2,*, Nicola Bragazzi³, Amri Hammami², Hela Znazen⁴, Qian Yu^5,6, Zhaowei Kong⁶, Liye Zou⁵

1 Postgraduate School of Public Health, Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), Genoa University, Genoa, 16132, Italy
2 Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Said, University of Manouba, Manouba, Tunisia
3 Laboratory for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (LIAM), Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
4 Department of Physical Education and Sport, College of Education, Taif University, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia
5 Exercise Psychophysiology Laboratory, Institute of KEEP Collaborative Innovation, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518052, China
6 Faculty of Education, University of Macau, Macao, China

* Corresponding Author: Maamer Slimani. Email:

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion 2021, 23(4), 513-520. https://doi.org/10.32604/IJMHP.2021.017639

Received 26 May 2021; Accepted 08 August 2021; Issue published 28 October 2021

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine the effect of wearing a face mask during aerobic dance exercise on cognitive function, more specifically on attention, as well as on perceived exertion and mood states. Thirteen healthy college students (9 males and 4 females: mean age = 17.5 years, height = 1.72 m, weight = 71.00 kg) volunteered to participate in this study. They were randomized to perform aerobic dance exercise while wearing a cloth face mask or no mask or a control condition (sitting on a comfortable chair and reading information about the health benefits of aerobic dance exercise) on three separate occasions (with at least one week of interval). Rate of perceived exertion (RPE), the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) and d2 Attention assessment were assessed before and immediately after each condition. The results demonstrated higher concentration performance for the aerobic dance exercise without face mask than the control condition (p = 0.05). Post RPE and BRUMS fatigue subscale values were significantly higher in the aerobic dance exercise with face mask as compared to the aerobic dance exercise without face mask and control condition (all, p < 0.05). BRUMS vigor subscale value significantly differed across conditions (F = 113.84, p < 0.001, ES = 0.86) and was significantly higher in the aerobic dance exercise group without face mask as compared to the aerobic dance exercise with face mask and the control conditions (both, p < 0.001). This study suggests that face mask use during aerobic dance exercise with moderate intensity did not affect attention. Practitioners, students and athletes should avoid wearing face mask while practicing physical activity or aerobic dance exercise with moderate intensity to improve its acute effect on cognitive function.

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Keywords

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