Key result
Accelerometer-based physical activity is consistently linked to increased arousal despite mixed effects on positive affect.
Why the study?
Physical activity is linked to improved mood, but the acute relationship between objectively measured physical activity and affect in daily life remains underexplored.
Does physical activity acutely affect positive and negative affect in healthy adults?
Systematic Review (n=14)
Does physical activity acutely affect positive and negative affect in healthy adults?
Accelerometer-based physical activity is consistently linked to increased arousal in real-world settings, though effects on valence and positive/negative affect are mixed due to methodological heterogeneity.
This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.
Affective experiences, including emotions and moods, are central to well-being. Physical activity (PA) is linked to improved mood, but the acute relationship between objectively measured PA and affect in daily life remains underexplored. Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) minimizes biases of retrospective reports and captures real-time effects. This scoping review synthesizes studies using EMA and accelerometers to examine the acute (within 30 minutes) effects of PA on positive and negative affect in healthy adults, highlighting methodological diversity and future research needs. A systematic search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and SportDiscus identified studies involving healthy adults that used EMA, accelerometer-based PA measures, and assessed acute PA effects on affect. Data extraction followed the CREMAS protocol, focusing on sample characteristics, PA and affect measures, compliance rates, and moderators. From 208 identified studies, 14 met the inclusion criteria. Studies varied in sample size, accelerometer placement, affect measurement scales, prompt frequency, and compliance, complicating comparisons. PA was consistently linked to increased arousal; findings for valence and positive affect were mixed. Negative affect tended to decrease after PA, but results were inconsistent. Several studies explored moderators, such as competence, autonomy, and social context. EMA is a valuable method for studying PA and affect dynamics in everyday life. However, methodological heterogeneity calls for more standardized protocols. Future research should improve transparency in reporting, explore additional moderators, and recruit more diverse samples to enhance generalizability . • Accelerometer-based PA is linked to increased arousal in real-world settings • Mixed results are observed for PA effects on valence and positive affect • Methodological heterogeneity limits generalizability across studies • Future studies should adopt standardized EMA and PA protocols
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May support activity prescriptions targeting arousal; leaves open valence effects due to heterogeneity.
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Plante et al. (2025) conducted a systematic review in Healthy adults (n=14). Physical activity was evaluated on Acute effects of physical activity on positive and negative affect. A scoping review of 14 studies found that accelerometer-based physical activity was consistently linked to increased arousal in healthy adults, while effects on valence and positive affect were mixed.
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