title: Unpacking the feel-good effect of free-time physical activity: between- and within-person associations with pleasant-activated feeling states.
abstract: Physical activity is a widely accessible and effective tool for improving well-being. This study aimed to unpack the feel-good effects of free-time physical activity. Multilevel models were applied to repeated measures of daily free-time physical activity and four types of feeling states obtained from 190 undergraduate students. Physical activity was not associated with pleasant-deactivated, unpleasant- activated, or unpleasant-deactivated feelings. People who were more physically active overall had higher pleasant-activated feelings than people who were less physically active, and on days when people were more physically active than was typical for them, they reported higher levels of pleasant-activated feelings. Both the between- and within-person associations remained significant after controlling for day of week, sleep quality, and carryover effects of previous day free-time physical activity and feeling states. Results suggest that both increases in overall levels and acute bouts of free-time physical activity are associated with increases in feelings of pleasant-activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Aaron L. Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hyde
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Conroy
authors.forename: Aaron L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pincus
authors.forename: Nilam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ram
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D004282:Documentation; D004644:Emotions; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult