Abstract
Regularly conducted exercise programs effectively influence affective states. Studies suggest that this is also true for short bouts of physical activity (PA) of 10 min or less. Accordingly, everyday life activities of short duration might be used to regulate affective states. However, this association has rarely been studied in reference to unstructured activities in ongoing real-life situations. The current study examined the influence of various everyday life activities on three dimensions of mood (valence, calmness, energetic arousal) in a predominantly inactive sample. Ambulatory Assessment (AA) was used to investigate the association between actual PA and affective states during the course of 1 day. Seventy-seven students ages 19–30 participated in the study. PA was assessed with accelerometers, and affective state assessments were conducted hourly using an e-diary with a six-item mood scale that was specially designed for AA. Multilevel analyses indicated that the mood dimensions energetic arousal (p = 0.001) and valence (p = 0.005) were positively influenced by the intensity of the activity carried out in the 10-min prior to the assessment. As their activity increased, the participants’ positive feelings and energetic arousal increased. However, the students’ calmness was not affected by their activity levels. The findings highlight the importance of integrating short activity intervals of 10 min or less into everyday life routines to improve affective states.
Highlights
The association between physical activity (PA) and affective states has been of interest for several decades (Arent et al, 2000; Netz et al, 2005)
PA was assessed with accelerometers, and affective state assessments were conducted hourly using an e-diary with a six-item mood scale that was specially designed for Ambulatory Assessment (AA)
The current findings support the hypothesis that there is a positive association between PA and affective states
Summary
The association between physical activity (PA) and affective states has been of interest for several decades (Arent et al, 2000; Netz et al, 2005). In the field of exercise and psychological adaptations, it is widely acknowledged that structured and organized sports activities have positive effects on subjective well-being (LaFontaine et al, 1992; Reed and Ones, 2006). A meta-analysis carried out by Reed and Ones (2006) verifies this positive effect on various mood parameters (affective states) for low to moderate intensity forms of PA. The meta-analysis found that the effects lasted for at least 30 min and influenced both valence (positive/negative) and energetic arousal (positive activated affect). Greater enhancements were documented when the baseline mood level was lower. This positive effect on affective states has been shown in several age and patient groups. Other studies support the assumption that PA has a more general protective effect on psychological health (Thayer, 1987; Otto and Stemmann, 1991; Gauvin and Spence, 1996; Ekkekakis et al, 2000)
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