Anticipation of and response to exercise in adolescents with CFS: An experimental study

M. E. Loades, T. Chalder, A. Smakowski, K. A. Rimes*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Using a laboratory-based exercise task, this study investigated objective exercise performance as well as expectations, anxiety and perceived task performance ratings in adolescents with CFS compared to healthy controls and illness controls. Method: Trials of a sit-stand exercise task (SST) were undertaken (CFS: n = 61, asthma (AS): n = 31, healthy adolescents (HC): n = 78). Adolescents rated their expectations, pre- and post-task anxiety, and perceived task difficulty. Their parents independently rated their performance expectations of their child. Results: The CFS group took significantly longer to complete the SST than the AS group (MD 3.71, 95% CI [2.41, 5.01] p < .001) and HC (MD 3.61, 95% CI [2.41, 4.81], p < .001). Adolescents with CFS had lower expectations for their performance on the exercise task than AS participants (MD -11.79, 95% CI [−22.17, −1.42] p = .022) and HC (MD -15.08, 95% CI [−23.01, −7.14] p < .001). They rated their perceived exertion as significantly greater than AS (MD 3.04, 95% CI [1.86, 4.21] p < .001) and HC (MD 2.98, 95% CI [1.99, 3.98], p < .001). The CFS group reported greater anxiety pre-task than AS (MD 14.11, 95% CI [5.57, 22.65] p < .001) and HC (MD 11.19, 95% CI [2.64, 19.75], p. = 007). Parental group differences showed similar patterns to the adolescents’'. Conclusions: Lower expectations and greater anxiety regarding exercise may reflect learning from previous difficult experiences which could impact future exercise performance. Further examination of pre-exercise expectations and post-exercise appraisals could improve our understanding of the mechanisms by which fatigue is maintained.

Original languageEnglish
Article number110490
JournalJournal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume146
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2021
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental Health

Keywords

  • Adolescence
  • Case control
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Exercise
  • Expectations

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