Does affective valence during and immediately following a 10-min walk predict concurrent and future physical activity?

BACKGROUND

Affect may be important for understanding physical activity behavior.

PURPOSE

To examine whether affective valence (i.e., good/bad feelings) during and immediately following a brief walk predicts concurrent and future physical activity.

METHODS

At months 6 and 12 of a 12-month physical activity promotion trial, healthy low-active adults (N=146) reported affective valence during and immediately following a 10-min treadmill walk. Dependent variables were self-reported minutes/week of lifestyle physical activity at months 6 and 12.

RESULTS

Affect reported during the treadmill walk was cross-sectionally (month 6: β=28.6, p=0.008; month 12: β=26.6, p=0.021) and longitudinally (β=14.8, p=0.030) associated with minutes/week of physical activity. Affect reported during a 2-min cool down was cross-sectionally (month 6: β=21.1, p=0.034; month 12: β=30.3, p<0.001), but not longitudinally associated with minutes/week of physical activity. Affect reported during a postcool-down seated rest was not associated with physical activity.

CONCLUSIONS

During-behavior affect is predictive of concurrent and future physical activity behavior.