Abstract

Several meta-analyses have investigated the association between physical activity and affective states and have found evidence suggesting that exercise exerts a positive effect on affective state. However, in this field of research, most studies have conducted between-subject analyses. Nonetheless, there is more and more interest in the within-subject associations between physical activity and momentary affective states in everyday life. This position statement pertains to this up-and-coming field of research and provides methodological recommendations for further studies. The paper is divided into three parts: first, we summarize and evaluate three methodological requirements necessary for the proper evaluation of within-subject associations between physical activity and momentary affective states in everyday life. We propose that the following issues should be considered: (a) to address the dynamic nature of such relationships, repeated assessments are necessary; (b) as activities performed in everyday life are mostly spontaneous and unconscious, an objective assessment of physical activity is useful; (c) given that recall of affective states is often affected by systematic distortions, real-time assessment is preferable. In sum, we suggest the use of ambulatory assessment techniques, and more specifically the combination of accelerometer-assessment of physical activity with an electronic diary assessment of the momentary affective state and additional context information. Second, we summarize 22 empirical studies published between 1980 and 2012 using ambulatory assessment to investigate within-subject associations between momentary affective states and physical activity in everyday life. Generally, the literature overview detects a positive association, which appears stronger among those studies that were of high methodological quality. Third, we propose the use of ambulatory assessment intervention (AAIs) strategies to change people’s behavior and to enable people to be active as often as possible during the day (e.g., reducing sitting time, taking more steps per day).

Highlights

  • Several meta-analyses (e.g., Arent et al, 2000; Netz et al, 2005; Puetz et al, 2006; Reed and Ones, 2006; Netz, 2009; Reed and Buck, 2009) have consistently revealed a positive between-subjects relation between physical activity and affective states; that is, a range of people feel better after having been physically active

  • The paper is divided into three parts: first, we summarize and evaluate three methodological requirements necessary for the proper evaluation of within-subject associations between physical activity and momentary affective states in everyday life

  • We propose that the following issues should be considered: (a) to address the dynamic nature of such relationships, repeated assessments are necessary; (b) as activities performed in everyday life are mostly spontaneous and unconscious, an objective assessment of physical activity is useful; (c) given that recall of affective states is often affected by systematic distortions, real-time assessment is preferable

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Summary

Introduction

Several meta-analyses (e.g., Arent et al, 2000; Netz et al, 2005; Puetz et al, 2006; Reed and Ones, 2006; Netz, 2009; Reed and Buck, 2009) have consistently revealed a positive between-subjects relation between physical activity and affective states; that is, a range of people feel better after having been physically active. The purpose of this paper is to instruct readers regarding this new and innovative field of research on assessing the within-subject associations between physical activity and momentary affective states in everyday life according to the highest methodological standards. In this position statement, we will propose, after providing an introduction to the assessment of physical activity and affect in general, three methodological standards, namely, (a) the need to address the dynamic process of the association; (b) the objective assessment of physical activity; and (c) the importance of real-time assessment. We will report and summarize studies investigating the within-subject association between physical activity and momentary affective states in everyday life www.frontiersin.org

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