Thirty female smokers (Mean(M) age = 25.7 years, Standard Deviation(SD) = 5.5; M weeks pregnant = 18.2, SD = 5.3; Fagerstrom Test for Cigarette Dependence = 3.3, SD = 2.2; M 9.3 cigarettes/day, SD = 4.7; M hours abstained = 17.2, SD = 2.8) were randomized to 20 min of mild-to-moderate intensity exercise (EC; n = 14) or passive (PC; n = 16) condition. Cravings and TWS were assessed immediately before, during (at 10 min), immediately post, and at 10, 20, and 30 min post-condition.
A 2 (condition) 脳 6 (time) repeated measures ANOVA revealed that the EC significantly (p < 0.05) reduced cravings (萎2 = 0.46) compared with the PC, across time. Non-significant, but nevertheless, large effects were evident favouring the EC over time for TWS restlessness (萎2 = 0.34), stress (萎2 = 0.24), irritability (萎2 = 0.21), tension (萎2 = 0.15), and depression (萎2 = 0.14).
Consistent with previous research, this study reveals that in pregnant smokers, a bout of exercise is associated with a reduction in cravings and similar patterns exist for TWS. Therefore, exercise may have the potential to assist in the initial stages of smoking cessation attempts during pregnancy.