Reciprocal within-day associations between incidental affect and exercise: An EMA study |
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Authors: | Jessica A Emerson Shira Dunsiger David M Williams |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USAjessica_emerson@brown.edu;3. Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA;4. Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA |
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Abstract: | Previous research suggests that how people feel throughout the course of a day (i.e. incidental affect) is predictive of exercise behaviour. A mostly separate literature suggests that exercise can lead to more positive incidental affect.Objective: This study examines the potential reciprocal effects of incidental affect and exercise behaviour within the same day.Design: Fifty-nine low-active (exercise <60 min/week), overweight (BMI: 25.0–39.9) adults (ages 18–65) participated in a six-month print-based exercise promotion programme.Main outcome measures: Ecological momentary assessment was used to record self-reported exercise sessions in real time and incidental affective valence (feeling good/bad) as assessed by the 11-point Feeling Scale at random times throughout the day.Results: Use of a within-subjects cross-lagged, autoregressive model showed that participants were more likely to exercise on days when they experienced more positive incidental affect earlier in the day (b = .58, SE = .10, p < .01), and participants were more likely to experience more positive incidental affect on days when they had exercised (b = .26, SE = .03, p < .01), with the former association significantly stronger than the latter (t = 23.54, p < .01).Conclusion: The findings suggest a positive feedback loop whereby feeling good and exercising are reciprocally influential within the course of a day. |
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Keywords: | exercise incidental affect ecological momentary assessment |
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