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. 2022 Nov 18;56(12):1284-1299.
doi: 10.1093/abm/kaac024.

Continuous-Time Modeling of the Bidirectional Relationship Between Incidental Affect and Physical Activity

Geralyn R Ruissen  1 , Mark R Beauchamp  1 , Eli Puterman  1 , Bruno D Zumbo  2   3 , Ryan E Rhodes  4 , Benjamin A Hives  1 , Brinkley M Sharpe  5   6 , Julio Vega  7 , Carissa A Low  5   7   8 , Aidan G C Wright  5
Affiliations

Continuous-Time Modeling of the Bidirectional Relationship Between Incidental Affect and Physical Activity

Geralyn R Ruissen et al. Ann Behav Med. .

Abstract

Background: Previous research suggests that there is a bidirectional relationship between incidental affect (i.e., how people feel in day-to-day life) and physical activity behavior. However, many inconsistencies exist in the body of work due to the lag interval between affect and physical activity measurements.

Purpose: Using a novel continuous-time analysis paradigm, we examined the temporal specificity underlying the dynamic relationship between positive and negative incidental affective states and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).

Methods: A community sample of adults (n = 126, Mage = 27.71, 51.6% Male) completed a 14-day ambulatory assessment protocol measuring momentary positive and negative incidental affect six times a day while wearing a physical activity monitor (Fitbit). Hierarchical Bayesian continuous-time structural equation modeling was used to elucidate the underlying dynamics of the relationship between incidental affective states and MVPA.

Results: Based on the continuous-time cross-effects, positive and negative incidental affect predicted subsequent MVPA. Furthermore, engaging in MVPA predicted subsequent positive and negative incidental affect. Incidental affective states had a greater relative influence on predicting subsequent MVPA compared to the reciprocal relationship. Analysis of the discrete-time coefficients suggests that cross-lagged effects increase as the time interval between measurements increase, peaking at about 8 h between measurement occasions before beginning to dissipate.

Conclusions: The results provide support for a recursive relationship between incidental affective states and MVPA, which is particularly strong at 7-9 hr time intervals. Future research designs should consider these medium-term dynamics, for both theory development and intervention.

Keywords: Continuous-time; Dynamic; Incidental affect; Physical activity.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Posterior mean and 95% credibility intervals for the standardized discrete-time autoregressive effects (i.e., persistence of MVPA (indicated by the solid, red line) and positive incidental affect (PA; indicated by the dot-dashed, purple line) and the cross-lagged effects (i.e., association between MVPA and positive affect at the subsequent time point (indicated by the long-dashed, blue line), and between positive incidental affect and MVPA at the subsequent time point (indicated by the short-dashed, green line)) at time interval lengths up to 48 hours. Please see the online version for the color version of the figure.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Posterior mean and 95% credibility intervals for the standardized discrete-time autoregressive effects (i.e., persistence of MVPA (indicated by the solid, red line) and negative incidental affect (NA; indicated by the dot-dashed, purple line) and the cross-lagged effects (i.e., association between MVPA and negative affect at the subsequent time point (indicated by the long-dashed, blue line), and between negative affect and MVPA at the subsequent time point (indicated by the short-dashed, green line)) at time interval lengths up to 48 hours. Please see online version for the color version of the figure.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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