The Effect of Morning Exercise on Mood and Learning Concentration

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of morning exercise on mood and learning concentration among students at the Faculty of Physical Education, Sports and Health (FIKK) at Universitas Negeri Makassar (UNM). The research employs a quasi-experimental design with a sample of 120 students divided into experimental and control groups. Data were collected through the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire and learning concentration assessments conducted over an eight-week intervention period. Results indicate that students who engaged in regular morning exercise (30 minutes, five days per week) demonstrated significantly improved mood states, with reduced anxiety and fatigue scores (p < 0.05), and exhibited enhanced learning concentration as measured by academic performance and attention span tests. The mean concentration score increased by 23.4% in the experimental group compared to 4.2% in the control group. Furthermore, positive correlations were observed between exercise frequency and mood improvement (r = 0.68, p < 0.001) and between mood enhancement and learning concentration (r = 0.72, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that morning exercise serves as an effective intervention for promoting psychological well-being and cognitive performance among university students. The study concludes that systematic implementation of morning exercise programs within academic curricula could substantially contribute to improving students' mental health and academic achievement. Future research should explore the mechanisms underlying these associations and investigate the sustainability of these effects across different demographic populations