Beyond emotional benefits: Physical activity and sedentary behaviour affect psychosocial resources through emotions

Abstract

Physical activity is known to improve emotional experiences, and positive emotions have been shown to lead to important life outcomes, including the development of psychosocial resources. In contrast, time spent sedentary may negatively impact emotional experiences and, consequently, erode psychosocial resources. Two studies tested whether activity independently influenced emotions and psychosocial resources, and whether activity indirectly influenced psychosocial resources through emotional experiences. Using cross-sectional (Study 1a) and longitudinal (Study 1b) methods, we found that time spent physically active independently predicted emotions and psychosocial resources. Mediation analyses suggested that emotions may account for the relation between activity and psychosocial resources. The improved emotional experiences associated with physical activity may help individuals build psychosocial resources known to improve mental health. Study 1a provided first indicators to suggest that, in contrast, sedentary behaviour may reduce positive emotions, which could in turn lead to decrements in psychosocial resources.

Keywords:

• physical activity
• exercise
• sedentary behaviour
• positive emotions
• psychosocial resources

Notes

1. Participants exhibiting varying levels of mental health, ranging from depression to flourishing mental health, were recontacted to complete a web-based version of the DRM as part of a larger study focused on how individuals with different levels of mental health (e.g. flourishers, non-flourishers and people with depression) respond emotionally to routine activities (Catalino & Fredrickson, 2011). Participants who completed Study 1a only, Study 1a and the first part of Study 1b only, and those who completed Study 1a and both parts of Study 1b did not differ in physical activity (F(2548) = .70, p = .455), sedentary behaviour (F(2, 601) = .57, p = .566), positive emotions (F(2612) = .20, p = .822) or psychosocial resources (F(2, 620) = .11, p = .891), age (F(2602) = .77, p = .462), gender (χ² (2) = 2.74, p = .254) or education (χ² (2) = 2.84, p = .242). A higher percentage of participants who completed Study 1a and both time points for Study 1b described their race as ‘White’ relative to participants who completed Study 1a only and Study 1a and the first part of Study 1b only (χ² (2) = 11.52, p = .003). Participants who completed Study 1a and both time points for Study 1b reported lower levels of negative emotions (F(2612) = 3.36, p = .036).

2. Statistical significance of all reported results for Study 1b was unchanged when mental health status (i.e. flourisher, non-flourisher or person with depression) was included as a covariate.

Additional information

Funding

Funding. This work was supported by the National Institute of Health [grant number R01NR012899], [grant number R01CA170128], [grant number R01AT007884], [grant number R01MH59615] to Barbara Fredrickson, and the National Institute of Health [grant number F31AG039132], [grant number T32MH01939] to Lahnna Catalino.