Lower Negative Affect Research Articles

Glycosylated Haemoglobin and Quality of Life: A Moderated-Mediation Model for Emotional Intelligence and Affect

Previous research has shown that higher glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels are related to poorer quality of life. The objective was to analyse the moderating role of emotional intelligence (EI) in the relationship between HbA1c levels and quality of life through both positive (PA) and negative affect (NA) in individuals with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). A total of 72 participants with T1D (mean age = 41.10, SD = 10.73) were assessed on HbA1c. Psychological constructs were measured through the following questionnaires: MSCEIT (EI), PANAS (affect), and EsDQOL (quality of life). Higher levels of HbA1c and NA were related to a worse quality of life. In contrast, higher PA was related to a better quality of life. In addition, higher EI was associated with lower NA and worries about diabetes. In individuals with low EI scores, EI had a positive moderating effect on the relationship between HbA1c and NA. The moderated mediation analysis revealed a significant positive indirect effect of HbA1c on quality of life through NA moderated by EI for these individuals with low EI scores. This study shows how higher HbA1c levels have a negative impact on the quality of life of individuals with T1D and low EI levels by increasing their NA.

Study longer or study effectively? Better study strategies can compensate for less study time and predict goal achievement and lower negative affect.

The hypothesis that study strategies can compensate for less study time in predicting learning outcomes has often been proposed but rarely tested empirically. In the present study, 231 university students reported their daily perceived time spent on self-study, study strategies (planning, monitoring, concentration and procrastination) and goal achievement over a 30 days period. Results showed that both more overall perceived study time and better study strategies (better planning, monitoring, and concentration, less procrastination) predicted higher goal achievement at the end of the day. In addition, perceived study time and study strategies interactively predicted goal achievement. When students reported better planning, monitoring and concentration as well as lower procrastination, less time was needed to achieve a high goal level compared to days on which they studied less strategically. In other words, when students studied less strategically, they had to invest more time to reach a higher goal level. In addition, perceived study time and study strategies were related to students' negative affect. Negative affect was particularly high when students studied for many hours with low concentration, and it was particularly low when students studied for only a few hours and procrastinated less. Taken together, the results suggest a compensatory effect of study time and study strategies on daily goal achievement and affect, highlighting the need to teach students effective study strategies.

Application of Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) in assessing the relationship between affect and movement behaviors among people with mood disorders: a scoping review

ABSTRACT Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) enables the generation of intensive longitudinal data to examine dynamic relationships between variables. This study aims to describe the use of EMA in assessing dynamic associations between movement behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep) and affective experiences among people with affective disorders. This scoping review searched peer-reviewed journal articles in eight electronic databases in both June 2022 and October 2023. Twenty-two studies were identified. Affective constructs were inconsistently implemented conceptually and operationally. Most studies (4/5) comparing compliance rates between mood-disordered participants and healthy controls found no significant differences, supporting EMA feasibility for individuals with affective disorders. Sleep quality was consistently linked to higher positive affect, lower negative affect, and mood enhancements. Physical activity (6/8 studies) was consistently associated with mood enhancements or improved positive affect, but not negative affect (2/3 studies). One study investigated affect and an indicator of sedentary behavior. Our review highlights EMA feasibility for investigating movement behaviors and affective experiences among people with affective disorders. Understanding these associations may contribute to informing clinical management of affective disorders and developing behavioral interventions such as just-in-time adaptive interventions. However, enhancing EMA methodology design and reporting is necessary to improve study reliability and validity.

Understanding Psychological Well-being and Resilience among College Nursing Students

Psychological well-being is defined as enhancing positive states and reducing negative states (Ryff, 1989; Ryff & Keyes, 1995). According to Ryff (1989), psychological well-being encompasses an individual's quality of life to other social units. It is characterized by two prominent varieties. The first refers to the extent to which people experience positive emotions and feelings of happiness. Sometimes this aspect of psychological well-being is referred to as subjective well-being (Diener, 2000). This type of psychological well-being is “Hedonic”, which is normally used to refer to the subjective feelings of happiness (Robertson & Cooper, 1999). It comprises two components, an affective component (high positive affect and low negative affect) and a cognitive component (satisfaction with life) (Robertson & Cooper, 1999). It is proposed that an individual experiences happiness when positive affect and satisfaction with life are both high (Carruthers & Hood, 2004).

The Role of Physical Fitness in Emotional Well-Being and Distress during Pregnancy: The GESTAFIT Project.

Pregnancy involves various physiological, physical, and social changes that can impact the mental health of the woman, causing her to have a stressful experience. Physical fitness (PF) is postulated as a powerful marker of health in this population. Therefore, this longitudinal study examined the association of PF with maternal emotional well-being and ill-being outcomes at 16th and 34th gestational weeks (g.w.) in a sample of 158 pregnant women (32.9 ± 4.7 years old). Self-reported PF was assessed with the valid and feasible International Fitness Scale [i.e., overall PF, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscular strength, speed-agility, and flexibility]; positive and negative affect, emotional intelligence, and resilience were measured using validated questionnaires specifically designed for this purpose. The results showed that women with greater overall PF and its components showed higher positive affect and lower negative affect (all, p < 0.05); greater emotional intelligence (all, p < 0.05); and greater resilience (all, p < 0.05), with similar results both in the 16th and the 34th g.w. These findings underscore the pivotal role of PF in promoting emotional health and resilience during pregnancy, thereby highlighting the need for integrating PF enhancement strategies in prenatal care programs.

Resting vagally-mediated heart rate variability in the laboratory is associated with momentary negative affect and emotion regulation in daily life.

Vagally-mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV) is a physiological index reflecting parasympathetic activity that has been linked to emotion regulation (ER) capacity. However, very limited research has examined associations of physiological indices of regulation such as vmHRV with emotional functioning in daily life. The few studies that exist have small samples sizes and typically focus on only a narrow aspect of ER or emotional functioning. In this study, we examined associations between vmHRV assessed in the laboratory and emotional/mental health functioning in daily life using a 7-day ecological momentary assessment design in 303 adult community participants. We hypothesized that higher resting vmHRV would be associated with higher positive affect (PA), lower negative affect (NA), less affective variability, greater well-being, fewer dysphoria symptoms, greater use of engagement ER strategies, and less use of avoidance ER strategies, as assessed in daily life. Results revealed that higher resting vmHRV in the laboratory (as indexed by both high frequency heart rate variability, HF-HRV, and the root mean of successive square deviations between heart beats, RMSSD) was significantly associated with less frequent use of avoidance ER strategies in daily life. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed, including the association of vmHRV with negatively valenced, rather than positively valenced, daily life experiences.

The dynamics of emotion-related impulsivity: An analysis of momentary self-efficacy and daily emotion-driven urges and actions via ecological momentary assessment.

Emotion-related impulsivity-the engagement in impulsive reactions specifically in response to emotions-is considered a transdiagnostic factor underlying psychopathology. The reflexive responding to emotion (RRE) model of emotion-related impulsivity (Carver et al., 2008) suggests that sensitivities to reward and threat in combination with control over emotion are factors that result in internalizing and externalizing psychopathology. In the current study, we adapt the trait-based RRE model to momentary states by evaluating how within-person fluctuations in affect combine with perceptions of momentary emotional control to predict impulsive, rash action and inaction in daily life. Participants (college students and adults recruited from the community: N = 197) completed 8 days of ecological momentary assessment, where we assessed current affect, perceptions of momentary emotional control (via distress intolerance and willpower), and urges for rash action and inaction (5,353 momentary prompts completed). We also assessed subsequent engagement in rash action and inaction. Using multilevel modeling, we found that when people feel greater positive affect and lower negative affect, they also report greater subjective willpower and lower distress intolerance, replicating past ecological momentary assessment findings. Furthermore, we found that momentary perceptions of momentary emotional control moderated the relationship between (a) affect and urges for rash action and (b) affect and engagement in rash action at follow-up. Findings support a dynamic model of the RRE model, confirming that perceptions of momentary emotional control are relevant for both rash action and inaction, particularly when occurring alongside shifts in affect. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

A Neural Signature for Reappraisal as an Emotion Regulation Strategy: Relationship to Stress-Related Suicidal Ideation and Negative Affect in Major Depression

BackgroundImpaired emotion regulation (ER) contributes to major depression and suicidal ideation and behavior. ER is typically studied by explicitly directing participants to regulate, but this may not capture spontaneous tendencies of individuals with depression to engage ER in daily life. MethodsIn 82 participants with major depressive disorder, we examined the relationship of spontaneous engagement of ER to real-world responses to stress. We used a machine learning–derived neural signature reflecting neural systems that underlie cognitive reappraisal (an ER strategy) to identify reappraisal-related activity while participants recalled negative autobiographical memories under the following conditions: 1) unstructured recall; 2) distanced recall, a form of reappraisal; and 3) immersed recall (comparison condition). Participants also completed a week of ecological momentary assessment measuring daily stressors, suicidal ideation, and negative affect. ResultsHigher reappraisal signature output for the unstructured period, a proxy for the spontaneous tendency to engage ER, was associated with greater increases in suicidal ideation following stressors (b = 0.083, p = .041). Higher signature output for distanced recall, a proxy for the capacity to engage ER when directed, was associated with lower negative affect following stressors (b = −0.085, p = .029). Output for the immerse period was not associated with ecological momentary assessment outcomes. ConclusionsFindings suggest that in major depressive disorder, the spontaneous tendency to react to negative memories with attempts to reappraise may indicate greater reactivity to negative cues, while intact capacity to use reappraisal when directed may be associated with more adaptive responses to stress. These data have implications for understanding stress-related increases in suicide risk in depression.

Effects of 72-hour abstinence from instant messaging on craving, withdrawal, and affect

The effects of abstinence from digital services and/or devices (aka “digital detox”) on mental health have received increased interest in recent years. Regular breaks and abstinent periods are advised to help individuals who overuse digital technology, but the psychological benefits and related consequences require empirical attention. While some studies have examined the impact of abstinence from smartphone or social networks (SN) on mental health, there is a dearth of literature on the effects of abstinence from Instant Messaging (IM) services. This study examined the association between a 72-h abstinence from IM and subjective craving toward IM, IM withdrawal-like symptoms, affect (positive and negative), and time spent on IM. Thirty-five undergraduates who regularly engaged in IM were assessed one day before (baseline), during (daily), one day after, and one week after refraining from using IM for 72 h. Results revealed a moderate-to-large decrease in craving (η2 = 0.438) and negative affect (η2 = 0.386) during and after the abstinence, whereas withdrawal-like symptoms and positive affect remained stable (η2 between 0.009 and 0.140). One week after abstinence, participants reported a small-to-moderate decrease in their IM use (d = 0.32). These results suggest that abstinence from IM is associated with reduced preoccupation and/or obsession (i.e., craving) with this use and lower negative affect. However, withdrawal-like symptoms and positive affect did not change. These findings support recommendations that IM users experiencing negative affect states may benefit from short-term abstinence. Further research should investigate strategies to support users in undertaking abstinence and regulating their digital device use.

Self-Compassion is Associated with Improved Well-Being and Healthier Cortisol Profiles in Undergraduate Students

ObjectivesStress is highly prevalent in college students. Self-compassion, the tendency to respond in a caring manner to one’s own suffering or failures, reduces psychological distress and promotes mental health. Self-compassion may also influence physiological manifestations of stress; however, research is limited. Among undergraduate students over the course of an academic semester, we explored the associations of self-compassion with stress-related psychological variables including measures of affect, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. We also examined daily patterns of salivary cortisol over four days: diurnal slope, mean, and day-to-day cortisol rhythm stability.MethodThis sample of undergraduate students from introductory psychology courses in a large United States Midwestern university was predominantly non-Hispanic White (71.2%) and female (86.4%). All data were collected prior to final exams. After providing baseline psychosocial data, participants engaged in a 2-week mindfulness intervention: They were provided an iPod loaded with audio tracks based on the well-known Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction intervention, but received no face-to-face instruction. Fifty-nine participants provided self-report demographic and medical data and completed the saliva sampling regimen over the first 4 days of the intervention. Diurnal salivary cortisol was assessed immediately after waking and again at bedtime over four consecutive days.ResultsHierarchical multiple regressions replicated previous findings showing that self-compassion is associated with higher positive and lower negative affect, lower perceived stress, and fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression. Regression models controlling for oral contraception and tobacco use revealed a positive association of self-compassion with healthy cortisol profiles marked by steeper diurnal cortisol slopes and increased regularity of the inter-daily cortisol slope.ConclusionsThese results confirm that self-compassion may be protective against the psychological and physiological manifestations of stress in college. Kind and compassionate responses to one’s own struggles may shield students from the adverse effects of stress. The potential mechanisms underlying these associations are worthy of future research.PreregistrationThis study is not preregistered.

Trajectories of positive and negative affect and state hope and their relationship with mental health among male adolescents in a juvenile correctional institution in China

Positive affect and hope contribute to individuals’ psychological adjustment and positive youth development. The purpose of the study was to examine growth in positive and negative affect as well as state hope in Chinese adolescents in a juvenile correctional institution. We also investigated whether distinct trajectories of affect and hope predicted mental health and externalizing, internalizing, and prosocial behavior. The study included 198 male adolescents in a Chinese juvenile correctional institution and comprised nine measurement points (T1-T9) which were one week apart, respectively. Positive and negative affect and state hope were assessed from T1 to T8, and mental health and internalizing, externalizing, and prosocial behavior were measured at T9. Analyses of latent growth curve and latent class growth models were estimated. It was found that positive and negative affect, as well as state hope, decreased over time. Youth in classes characterized by higher state hope and lower negative affect reported better mental health than youth in classes characterized by lower levels of these constructs. Because of the beneficial effects of lower negative affect and higher state hope on mental health and internalizing, externalizing, and prosocial behavior, interventions strengthening hope and reducing negative affect may promote positive youth development in juvenile correctional institutions.

From the COVID-19 lockdown to the new normal: Two-year changes in daily stress and positive event processes.

The emergence of the novel COVID-19 disease and the social distancing measures implemented to curb its spread affected most aspects of daily life. Past work suggests that during times of more severe stress, people respond to daily stressors with relatively higher negative affect. However, little is known about how people responded to daily stressors and positive events at different moments in time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, we examined longitudinal changes in daily event-related affect (covariation of daily stressors or positive events with same-day affect) from Spring 2020 (wave 1) to 2022 (wave 2). The sample consisted of 324 adults aged 18-80 (mean=52years; 89% women) from the US and Canada who completed weeklong daily diaries at both waves. The results revealed improvements in affective well-being, stressor-related affect (i.e., smaller fluctuations in affect on stressor days vs. nonstressor days), and positive event-related affect (i.e., lower negative affect on days with vs. without positive events). Furthermore, as people gradually resumed their social activities from 2020 to 2022, people reported being exposed to an increased frequency of both stressors and positive events. This study highlights the potential influence of socio-historical phenomena, such as an ongoing pandemic, on the events that people encounter and how they emotionally respond to them.

Reclaiming Pleasure: Does Satisfying Consensual Sexual Activity Predict Next-Day Positive Affect Among Women with a History of Sexual Assault?

ABSTRACT Substantial research documents the psychosocial benefits of sexual activity, including heightened positive affect and lowered negative affect following sexual encounters. However, it is important to examine whether affective benefits of consensual sexual activity are present among individuals who have also experienced non-consensual sexual activity (i.e. sexual assault), given that sexual assault may have harmful consequences for sexual functioning and pleasure during consensual encounters. This study tested consensual sexual activity and satisfaction as predictors of next-day positive and negative affect among 82 women sexual assault survivors. Participants completed ecological momentary assessment measures for three weeks, including measures of past-day dyadic (i.e. partnered) sexual activity and satisfaction in the morning and current affect in the afternoon. As hypothesized, dyadic sexual activity and greater than usual sexual satisfaction predicted increased next-day positive affect after controlling for past-day positive affect. In contrast, and partially supporting hypotheses, sexual satisfaction, but not activity alone, predicted lowered next-day negative affect after controlling for past-day negative affect. At the between person level, greater sexual satisfaction (but not overall frequency of dyadic sexual activity) was associated with greater positive and lower negative affect on average after controlling for several covariates. Findings indicate that satisfying dyadic sexual encounters lead to relatively long-lasting positive affect changes in women who have experienced sexual assault.

The Adaptiveness of Emotion Regulation Variability and Interoceptive Attention in Daily Life.

In daily life, we must dynamically and flexibly deploy strategies to regulate our emotions, which depends on awareness of emotions and internal bodily signals. Variability in emotion-regulation strategy use may predict fewer negative emotions, especially when people pay more attention to their bodily states-or have greater "interoceptive attention" (IA). Using experience sampling, this study aimed to test whether IA predicts variability in strategy use and whether this variability and IA together predict negative affect. University student participants ( n = 203; 165 females; Mage = 20.68, SD age = 1.84) completed trait questionnaires and reported state levels of IA, emotional awareness, negative affect, and emotion-regulation strategies, seven times daily for 1 week. State IA significantly predicted between-strategy variability, which was mediated by emotional awareness (indirect effect = 0.002, 95% confidence interval = <0.001-0.003). Between-strategy variability was associated with lower negative affect, particularly when individuals had higher state IA (simple slope = -0.83, t = -5.87, p < .001) versus lower IA (simple slope = -0.31, t = -2.62, p = .009). IA appears to facilitate adaptative emotion regulation and help alleviate negative affect. Findings underscore the key roles of IA and emotion-regulation flexibility in mental health.

Low-Level Visual Features of Window Views Contribute to Perceived Naturalness and Mental Health Outcomes.

Previous studies have shown that natural window views are beneficial for mental health, but it is still unclear which specific features constitute a 'natural' window view. On the other hand, studies on image analysis found that low-level visual features (LLVFs) are associated with perceived naturalness, but mainly conducted experiments with brief stimulus presentations. In this study, research on the effects of window views on mental health was combined with the detailed analysis of LLVFs. Healthy adults rated window views from their home and sent in photographs of those views for analysis. Content validity of the 'ecological' view assessment was evaluated by checking correlations of LLVFs with window view ratings. Afterwards, it was explored which of the LLVFs best explained variance in perceived percentage of nature and man-made elements, and in ratings of view quality. Criterion validity was tested by investigating which variables were associated with negative affect and impulsive decision-making. The objective and subjective assessments of nature/sky in the view were aligned but objective brightness was unreliable. The perceived percentage of nature was significantly explained by green pixel ratio, while view quality was associated with fractals, saturation, sky pixel ratio and straight edge density. The higher subjective brightness of rooms was associated with a lower negative affect, whereas results for impulsive decision-making were inconsistent. The research highlights the validity to apply LLVFs analysis to ecological window views. For affect, subjective brightness seemed to be more relevant than LLVFs. For impulsive decision-making, performance context needs to be controlled in future studies.

Daily-life stress reactivity and recovery following virtual-reality-based cognitive behavioral therapy in patients with a psychotic disorder.

Studies have consistently demonstrated increased stress sensitivity in individuals with psychosis. Since stress sensitivity may play a role in the onset and maintenance of psychosis, this could potentially be a promising target for treatment. The current study was the first to investigate whether reactivity to and recovery from daily-life stressors in psychosis change in response to treatment, namely virtual-reality-based cognitive behavioral therapy (VR-CBT). 116 patients were randomized to either VR-CBT or the waiting list control group (WL). Pre-treatment and post-treatment participants completed a diary ten times a day during six to ten days. Multilevel analyses were used to model the time-lagged effects of daily stressful events on negative affect (NA) and paranoia symptoms to examine reactivity and recovery. There was a significant difference in NA reactivity. VR-CBT showed higher NA at post-treatment compared to pre-treatment than WL (bpre=0.14; bpost=0.19 vs bpre=0.18; bpost=0.14). There was a significant difference in NA recovery and paranoia recovery between the groups at lag 1: VR-CBT showed relatively lower negative affect (bpre=0.07; bpost=-0.06) and paranoia (bpre= 0.08; bpost=-0.10) at post-treatment compared to pre-treatment than WL (bpre=0.08; bpost=0.08; bpre=0.04; bpost=0.03). Negative affect and paranoia recovery improved in response to treatment. Increased NA reactivity may be explained by a decrease in safety behavior in the VR-CBT group. The discrepancy between reactivity and recovery findings may be explained by the inhibitory learning theory that suggests that an original threat reaction may not erase but can be inhibited as a consequence of exposure therapy.

Subjective wellbeing of autistic adolescents and young adults: A cross sectional study.

Subjective wellbeing (SWB) represents an individual's perception of wellness that is supported by homeostatic mechanisms. These mechanisms are proposed to be maintained by low negative affect and high positive affect, although less is known about these mechanisms and SWB in autism. The current cross-sectional study aimed to compare patterns of positive affect, negative affect (Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale), and SWB (Personal Wellbeing Index-School Children) between autistic (n = 53) and non-autistic (n = 49) individuals aged 10-22 years (Mage = 13.97, SD = 3.13). Between-group t-tests revealed that compared with same-age peers, autistic participants scored lower SWB overall (p < 0.001). In both groups average SWB scores fell into the higher range, however, autistic participants were three-times more likely to fall below this range when compared to non-autistic participants. Negative affect had a higher intercept in the autistic sample, but no difference in slopes were observed. A hierarchical multiple regression revealed that diagnosis, positive affect, and negative affect significantly predicted SWB in our sample. Between-group t-tests found no significant difference in positive affect or negative affect across age between the autistic and non-autistic samples. In autistic participants, positive affect increased across age as SWB decreased, whilst negative affect remained stable, a pattern inconsistent with homeostatic SWB. The current study is overall consistent with the homeostatic explanation for SWB within autism; however, we identified potential differences between autistic and non-autistic participants in the contribution of positive affect and negative affect to homeostatic protect mood across development.

The longitudinal relationship between levels of leisure-time physical activity and positive and negative affect among older foreign-born adults with mild cognitive impairment.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the longitudinal impact of different levels of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) participation on positive and negative affect among older foreign-born adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This study used 2012 to 2020 data from the Health and Retirement Study data (n = 1206) that was analyzed using repeated measured multivariate analysis of covariance. The high-level participation LTPA group reported higher positive affect and lower negative affect than the mid and low-level participation groups. The mid-level LTPA group also reported higher positive and lower negative affect than the low-level LTPA group. This study provides evidence that high levels of LTPA participation contribute to an increase in positive affect and a reduction of negative affect among older foreign-born adults with MCI. The findings of this study will help fill the gap in research on the longitudinal relationship between levels of LTPA participation and positive and negative affect among older foreign-born adults.

Routineness of Social Interactions Is Associated With Higher Affective Well-Being in Older Adults.

Some research conceptualizes routineness of daily life as an indicator of cognitive vulnerability that would lead to lower well-being in older age, whereas other research expects routineness to give rise to more meaning and stability in life and thus to higher well-being. Further research is needed to understand routineness in older adults in relation to cognitive abilities and well-being. This study examined routineness of social interactions. We examined data from an event-contingent experience sampling study with 103 Swiss community-dwelling older adults (aged 65 to 84 years). Participants completed in-lab cognitive assessments (reasoning, episodic memory, speed, and vocabulary) and reported their well-being (positive affect, negative affect, and life satisfaction). For more than 21 days, participants reported the time and context of their social interactions (including modality, partner type, and location). Routineness of social interactions was defined as social interactions that occurred at the same time of day over the study period. It was calculated using recurrence quantification analysis. Linear regressions showed that higher routineness of social interaction in general, of social interaction through the same modality, and of social interaction with the same partner type were associated with higher positive affect. Higher routineness of social interaction in general was associated with lower negative affect. Routineness of social interactions was not associated with life satisfaction or cognitive abilities. A routine social life may increase older adults' affective well-being. Results are discussed in the context of activity engagement and time use in older age.

Behavioral Activation Mobile App to Motivate Smokers to Quit: Feasibility and Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Behavioral activation (BA) is an evidence-based treatment for depression that fosters engagement in values-based activities to increase access to positive reinforcement. Depressed mood has been shown to hinder smoking cessation. This study determined the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a mobile app to motivate smokers to quit by using BA and integrating motivational messages to quit smoking. Adult smokers (N=56; mean age 34.5, SD 9.52 years) who were not ready to quit smoking within 30 days were recruited from advertisements and randomized to either 8 weeks of the BA app (set 2 values-based activities per week+motivational messages+feedback on changes in smoking, mood, and values-based activities) or the control group (no app; received resources for quitting smoking). All participants completed the baseline and end-of-treatment web-based questionnaires. Controls also completed weekly web-based assessments, and BA app participants completed assessments through the app. There were no dropouts and only 2 participants in each condition did not complete the end-of-treatment questionnaire. The results demonstrated that it is feasible to recruit smokers who are unmotivated to quit into a smoking cessation induction trial: 86% (57/66) of eligible participants were randomized (BA app: n=27; control: n=29). Participants reported high levels of satisfaction: 80% (20/25) of participants said they would recommend the BA app, there were moderate-to-high scores on the Mobile App Rating Scale, and 88% (22/25) of participants rated the app 3 stars or higher (out of 5). There were high levels of BA app engagement: 96% (26/27) of participants planned activities, and 67% (18/27) of participants planned 7 or more activities. High engagement was found even among those who were at the highest risk for continued smoking (low motivation to quit, low confidence to quit, and high negative affect). The results provided support for the hypothesized relationships between BA constructs: greater pleasant activity completion was associated with greater positive affect (b=0.37, SE 0.21; 95% CI -0.05 to 0.79; P=.08), and greater positive affect tended to predict fewer cigarettes smoked the next day (b=-0.19, SE 0.10; 95% CI -0.39 to 0.01; P=.06). Additionally, a greater number of activities planned was associated with lower negative affect (b=-0.26, SE 0.15; 95% CI -0.55 to 0.04; P=.09). Overall, 16% (4/25) of BA app participants set a quit date versus 4% (1/27) among controls, and there were promising (but not significant) trends for motivation and confidence to quit. The findings suggest that a mobile app intervention can be made appealing to smokers who are unmotivated to quit by focusing on aspects most important to them, such as mood management. This theory-based intervention has shown some initial support for the underlying theoretical constructs, and further efficacy testing is warranted in a fully powered trial.