Psychological Impacts of Exercise Snacks Versus Traditional Exercise: A Comparative Study (ES)

June 18, 2026 updated by: Linjun Liu, Lincoln University College

This study investigates the comparative psychological impacts of a high-frequency "Exercise Snacks" (ESG) protocol versus a traditional continuous exercise (TEG) regimen on healthy young adults. Utilizing a randomized controlled trial design over a 4-week longitudinal period, 180 participants were allocated into two groups of 90, with a standby recruitment protocol employed to ensure sample size stability.

The intervention was standardized to equate total weekly exercise volume at 90 minutes. The TEG cohort performed 30-minute continuous cycling sessions three times per week, whereas the ESG cohort executed 15-minute distributed cycling sessions six times per week. To ensure physiological homogeneity and precision in workload prescription, individual baseline maximal aerobic capacity was assessed via incremental cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Based on these individual thresholds, exercise intensity for both cohorts was rigorously maintained at 40% of their respective maximal aerobic capacity throughout the intervention.

Psychometric outcomes were evaluated within 24 hours of the intervention's conclusion, focusing on three dimensions: Perceived Stress, Decision Fatigue and Cognitive Load, and Physical Activity Enjoyment. By applying Lazarus and Folkman's Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, Sweller's Cognitive Load Theory, and Self-Determination Theory, this research examines how fragmented exercise protocols interact with daily workflow and self-regulatory resources. The findings provide critical insights into the real-world viability, behavioral resistance, and psychological divergence associated with high-frequency, fragmented exercise routines compared to conventional models.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

199

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • China
    • Hubei
      • Wuhan, Hubei, China, 430074
        • Wuhan Technical University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Healthy young adults (aged 18-30).
  2. Body composition within the healthy range (12%-25% for males; 18%-33% for females).
  3. Able and willing to provide informed consent and adhere to the 4-week exercise protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Pre-existing cardiovascular, metabolic, or chronic respiratory conditions.
  2. History of musculoskeletal injuries that prevent safe participation in cycling.
  3. Current engagement in regular, structured exercise exceeding 60 minutes per week.
  4. Use of medications or substances known to significantly influence heart rate, cognitive performance, or stress responses.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Exercise Snacks Group (ESG)
Participants in this group perform high-frequency, fragmented exercise sessions. The protocol consists of six 15-minute cycling sessions per week, totaling 90 minutes of moderate-intensity activity. The exercise intensity is strictly regulated at 40% of the individual's maximal aerobic capacity, monitored via electronically braked cycle ergometers.
Behavioral: Exercise Snacks Group (ESG)
Participants perform high-frequency, fragmented exercise consisting of six 15-minute cycling sessions per week, totaling 90 minutes of weekly activity. The exercise intensity is strictly prescribed and maintained at 40% of the individual's maximal aerobic capacity, as determined by preliminary cardiopulmonary testing. All sessions are conducted on digitized, electronically braked stationary ergometers to ensure precise, real-time monitoring of power output and strict adherence to the prescribed workload.
Active Comparator: Traditional Exercise Group (TEG)
Participants in this group follow a structured, continuous exercise protocol. The intervention involves three 30-minute sessions of continuous cycling per week, totaling 90 minutes of moderate-intensity activity. Consistent with the ESG cohort, exercise intensity is maintained at 40% of the individual's maximal aerobic capacity to ensure physiological equivalence between groups.
Behavioral: Traditional Exercise Group (TEG)
Participants perform structured, continuous exercise consisting of three 30-minute cycling sessions per week, totaling 90 minutes of weekly activity. To ensure physiological equivalence, the exercise intensity is also strictly maintained at 40% of the individual's maximal aerobic capacity. Participants utilize the same digitized, electronically braked stationary ergometers as the ESG group to ensure consistent monitoring of exercise duration and intensity throughout the 4-week intervention period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Decision Fatigue and Cognitive Load (DFCL)
Time Frame: Within 24 hours post-intervention.
This outcome assesses the depletion of self-regulatory resources and the cognitive strain resulting from executive function demands. It utilizes a validated psychometric instrument to evaluate task-switching costs and perceived mental exertion following daily activities.
Within 24 hours post-intervention.
Perceived Stress (PS)
Time Frame: Within 24 hours post-intervention.
This outcome measures the subjective psychological distress experienced by participants. It evaluates the extent to which participants perceive situations in their lives as uncontrollable, unpredictable, and overloaded, as assessed by the standardized Perceived Stress Scale (PSS).
Within 24 hours post-intervention.
Physical Activity Enjoyment (PAE)
Time Frame: Within 24 hours post-intervention.
This outcome evaluates the participant's affective response to the assigned exercise modality. It captures factors such as acute enjoyment, perceived satisfaction, and the psychological impact of logistical friction associated with the specific exercise protocol (ESG vs. TEG).
Within 24 hours post-intervention.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Lincoln University College

Collaborators

Wuhan Technical University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

March 16, 2026

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 16, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

June 16, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 18, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 18, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 24, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 24, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 18, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • WTU-TMB-260316

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

There is no plan to share individual participant data to protect the privacy of the participants and ensure data security.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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