The Relationships Between Physical Activity Behavior, Daily Experiences, and Well-Being in Everyday Life

Abstract

Abstract A physically active lifestyle has several health benefits in both the short- and long-term. This includes higher levels of emotional and psychological well-being and, in many cases, maintained well-being despite stressful experiences that can have countervailing, negative impacts on health. This symposium presents innovative research that (a) links physical activity to positive and negative events or experiences in middle-aged and older adults, and that (b) uses different assessment and analytical techniques to unpack these links on multiple timescales – between moments, days, and years. Lee and colleagues investigate the influence of daily positive experiences on the likelihood and extent of physical activity. O’Brien and Almeida examine how daily stressor experiences predict engagement in different intensities of physical activity and highlight moderating factors such as perceived stressor control. Lastly, Benson and colleagues report on whether the potential for daily physical activity to protect against negative stressor responses differs with age and changes across the adult lifespan. Together, these papers consider the nature and mechanisms of the relationship between physical activity and everyday experiences (e.g., stressors and positive events). They also underscore the importance of assessing relationships on different timescales to obtain a clearer understanding of intrapersonal and developmental processes. As discussant, Hoppmann will assess the strengths and limitations of these papers, elaborate on underlying and overarching themes, and identify future directions in this field.