Recent meta-analyses support the chronic anxiolytic effects of resistance exercise training among women with diagnosed Generalized Anxiety Disorder. However, the effects of resistance exercise training among those with subclinical, or analogue-Generalized Anxiety Disorder is unknown. This protocol details the full methods of two parallel, randomized controlled trials of an eight-week resistance exercise training intervention compared to a wait-list control condition among young adults with and without analogue-Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Analogue-Generalized Anxiety Disorder status was determined using validated cut-scores for both the Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire Generalized Anxiety Disorder sub-scale score of 6 or greater, and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire score of 45 or greater. The ecologically-valid resistance exercise training was designed according to World Health Organization and American College of Sports Medicine guidelines.
This protocol details the full methods of two parallel, randomized controlled trials of an eight-week resistance exercise training intervention compared to a wait-list control condition among young adults with and without analogue-Generalized Anxiety Disorder.