Momentary Affect Predicts Bodily Movement in Daily Life: An Ambulatory Monitoring Study

Abstract

There is converging evidence that physical activity influences affective states. It has been found that aerobic exercise programs can significantly diminish negative affect. Moreover, among healthy individuals, moderate levels of physical activity seem to increase energetic arousal and positive affect. However, the predictive utility of affective states for bodily movement has rarely been investigated. In this study, we examined whether momentarily assessed affect is associated with bodily movement in everyday life. Using a previously published data set (Schwerdtfeger, Eberhardt, & Chmitorz, 2008), we reanalyzed 12-hr ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data from 124 healthy volunteers. Electronic momentary positive-activated affect (EMA-PAA) and negative affect (EMA-NA) were assessed via handheld computers, and bodily movement was recorded via accelerosensors. Generalized linear mixed models were calculated. Results indicated that EMAPAA increases were accompanied by bodily movement increases of varying intensity. EMA-NA was also positively associated with increases in certain kinds of bodily movement. In light of previous research, this finding suggests that affect and bodily movement may have circular effects on each other.

Physical Activity Increases after an Affectively Arousing Daily Life Event

“…These studies generally confirm that increases in positive affect or energetic arousal during daily life are preceded by increased bodily movement (Schwerdtfeger et al, 2008; Kanning, 2012; Kanning et al, 2012; Bossmann et al, 2013; Dunton et al, 2014), but find that increases in negative affect or tense arousal during daily life are preceded by either increases (Powell et al, 2009; Kanning, 2012; Kanning et al, 2012) or no change (Schwerdtfeger et al, 2008; Bossmann et al, 2013; von Haaren et al, 2013) in bodily movement, rather than decreases as observed in laboratory studies. These and other studies of similar design also find that bodily movement follows, as well as precedes, affective arousal (Powell et al, 2009; Schwerdtfeger et al, 2010; Dunton et al, 2014). One explanation for the latter finding is that the studies detected co-occurring, rather than sequential, affective arousal and bodily movement.…”

“…To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine changes in objectively measured body movement after an arousing life event. Other studies have reported correlations between momentary affect and body movement levels during daily life, but did not relate these changes to specific life events or situations (Schwerdtfeger et al, 2010; Kanning, 2012; Bossmann et al, 2013). …”

“…These findings suggest that increasing physical activity levels during daily life might help regulate affective states, thereby alleviating depression and enhancing well-being (North et al, 1990; Stathopoulou et al, 2006; Reed and Buck, 2009; Kanning, 2012). Some have suggested that such regulation might be achieved through increased performance of daily physical activities without adopting structured exercise routines (Schwerdtfeger et al, 2010; Kanning, 2012; Bossmann et al, 2013; von Haaren et al, 2013). This might be of particular importance for those reluctant to initiate or maintain a structured exercise program (Palomo et al, 2008).…”

Higher chronic psychological stress is associated with blunted affective responses to strenuous resistance exercise: RPE, pleasure, pain

“…Interestingly, those who tend to dissociate during exercise exhibit greater levels of endurance (Masters & Ogles, 1998). Moreover, it's well documented that stress may spur greater activity in some situations (Schwerdtfeger, Eberhardt, Chmitorz, & Schaller, 2010;StultsKolehmainen & Sinha, 2014).…”

Concurrent and lagged relations between momentary affect and sedentary behavior in middle-aged women

“…In one study, both positive and negative affect was accompanied by decreases in SB after controlling for pre-affect physical activity levels 10 . More studies are however needed to systematically evaluate the associations between momentary affect and SB in the context of daily experiences.…”