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Original Article

Physical Activity and Affective Well-Being in Everyday Life

Comparing Sport Activities and Daily Physical Activities Regarding Acute and Sustainable Associations

Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1026/0943-8149/a000163

Abstract. Multiple studies verified the acute positive effects of physical activity on affective well-being, focusing on sport activities in laboratory settings or supervised programs. This study builds on existing ambulatory assessment studies that indicate positive associations between physical activity and affective well-being (valence, energetic arousal) in everyday life and explicitly differentiates between sport activities and daily physical activities. Moreover, the sustainability of effects is explored. For 7 days, 21 men and 25 women (Mage = 32 years) participated in the study. Physical activity was captured objectively by an accelerometer and additionally with an activity diary. Affective well-being was gathered via a smartphone multiple times per day. Multilevel analyses revealed positive effects on affective well-being (valence, calmness, energetic arousal) for sport activities included in the daily routine. Daily physical activity showed acute positive effects for valence and energetic arousal but not for calmness. However, at the day’s end, sport activities and daily physical activity were positively associated with valence and calmness. This study gives further background knowledge for activity recommendations based on the affect-regulating potential of physical activity.


Körperlich-sportliche Aktivität und Befinden im Alltag. Differenzierte Analyse von Sportaktivitäten und körperlichen Alltagsaktivitäten hinsichtlich akuter und anhaltender Assoziationen

Zusammenfassung. Viele Studien belegen akute positive Effekte von körperlicher Aktivität auf affektives Befinden, allerdings häufig in Laborstudien oder strukturierten Sportprogrammen. Die vorliegende Studie baut auf bestehende ambulante Assessment-Studien auf, die auf positive Beziehungen zwischen körperlicher Aktivität und affektivem Befinden (Valenz, positive Aktivierung) im Alltagskontext hindeuten und differenziert explizit zwischen Sportaktivitäten und körperlichen Alltagsaktivitäten. Zudem wird die Nachhaltigkeit von Assoziationen analysiert. Über 7 Tage nahmen 21 Männer und 25 Frauen (MAlter = 32) teil. Körperliche Aktivität wurde objektiv durch Akzelerometrie sowie zusätzlich durch ein Aktivitätsprotokoll erfasst. Affektives Befinden wurde mehrfach täglich über ein Smartphone erfragt. Mehrebenenanalysen konnten akute positive Effekte von Sportaktivitäten auf das affektive Befinden (Valenz, Ruhe, positive Aktivierung) auch im Alltagssetting replizieren. Körperliche Alltagsaktivität zeigte akute positive Effekte auf Valenz und positive Aktivierung, nicht auf das Ruhe-Erleben. Am Ende des Tages zeigten sich für Sportaktivitäten und körperliche Alltagsaktivität für Valenz und Ruhe positive Assoziationen. Dies bietet weiteres Hintergrundwissen für Aktivitätsempfehlungen die auf befindungsregulativem Potenzial von körperlicher Aktivität basieren.

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