The Stress-Buffering Effect of Daily Physical Activity on Negative and Positive Affect

Abstract Previous studies show that physical activity is beneficial for emotional well-being. This study extends prior research by examining whether engagement in physical activity moderates the association between daily stressor severity and daily emotional well-being. We used data from the second wave of the National Study of Daily Experiences, a sub-project of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. Respondents (N = 1,851; ages 33 to84) reported their daily experiences across eight consecutive days. Multilevel models explored concurrent and lagged interaction effects between daily stressor severity and physical activity on negative and positive affect and whether these associations differed by age. Physical activity was measured by engagement in vigorous physical activity for at least 30 minutes. Results showed significant interactions between stressor severity and physical activity on same-day negative and positive affect. Specifically, stressor severity was associated with smaller elevation in daily negative affect on physically active days (b = 0.08, p < 0.001) compared to non-active days (b = 0.11, p < 0.001). Reductions in daily positive affect were greater on physically inactive days (b = -0.11, p < 0.001) compared to active days (b = -0.08, p < 0.001). These associations did not differ by age, but additional findings revealed that stressor severity was associated with greater elevation in negative affect among younger respondents (b = 0.12, p < 0.001) than older adults (b = 0.10, p < 0.001). These results highlight the importance of engagement in physical activity for emotional well-being under stressful situations in daily context.

Download Full-text

STRESS-BUFFERING EFFECTS OF VOLUNTEERING ON DAILY WELL-BEING: RESULTS FROM THE NATIONAL STUDY OF DAILY EXPERIENCES

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.876 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S235-S235

Author(s):

Saehwang Han ◽

Kyungmin Kim ◽

Jeffrey Burr

Keyword(s):

Negative Affect ◽

Multilevel Models ◽

Well Being ◽

National Study ◽

Daily Stressors ◽

Stress Buffering ◽

Daily Experiences ◽

Helping Others ◽

Second Wave ◽

Buffering Effects

Abstract Based on theory and empirical evidence linking volunteering and health, we investigated the associations between daily engagements in formal volunteering, stressors, and negative affective well-being, focusing on the stress-buffering effect of volunteering. Using eight days of daily diary data from the second wave of the National Study of Daily Experiences (participants, N = 1,320; participant-day observations, N = 8,277), we estimated a series of multilevel models to assess the within-person associations between daily volunteering, stressors, and affect. Results indicated there were no direct associations between daily volunteering and negative affect. However, we found the association between daily stressors and negative affect (but not positive affect) was weaker on days when volunteering was performed compared to days volunteering was not performed. Taken together, our findings suggested that short-term health benefits associated with daily volunteering were largely based on the stress-buffering effects of helping others, rather than through a direct effect.

Download Full-text

Stress-Buffering Effects of Volunteering on Daily Well-Being: Evidence From the National Study of Daily Experiences

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gbz052 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 75 (8) ◽

pp. 1731-1740 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sae Hwang Han ◽

Kyungmin Kim ◽

Jeffrey A Burr

Keyword(s):

Positive Affect ◽

Multilevel Models ◽

Later Life ◽

Well Being ◽

National Study ◽

Theoretical Frameworks ◽

Stress Buffering ◽

Buffering Effect ◽

Daily Experiences ◽

Buffering Effects

Abstract Objectives Building on theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence linking volunteering and well-being in later life, we investigated the associations between daily engagement in formal volunteering, stressors, and negative and positive affect, focusing on the stress-buffering effect of volunteering. Methods We used 8 days of daily diary data from the second wave of the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE II), a national survey of middle-aged and older adults (participant N = 1,320; participant-day observation N = 8,277). A series of multilevel models were estimated to assess the within-person associations between daily volunteering, stressors, and affect. Results A direct link between daily volunteering and affect was not discovered. However, we found that the association between daily stressors and negative affect (but not positive affect) was weaker on days when volunteering was performed compared to days volunteering was not performed. Discussion Our findings suggested that the stress-buffering effect of volunteering contributes to improved emotional well-being for participants who volunteered on a daily basis. Future studies should investigate whether such stress-buffering effects are present for other forms of helping behaviors.

Download Full-text

Positive Affect and Negative Emotional Responses to Daily Stressors

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2189 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 638-638

Author(s):

Kate Leger ◽

Susan Charles ◽

David Almeida

Keyword(s):

Negative Affect ◽

Positive Affect ◽

Negative Emotion ◽

Emotional Responses ◽

The United States ◽

Stressful Events ◽

National Study ◽

Daily Stressors ◽

Daily Experiences ◽

Average State

Abstract Positive affect is beneficial for regulating negative emotional responses to stressful events. Yet, few studies have examined if positive affect may attenuate negative affect the following day. We examined how both trait positive affect and state positive affect are associated with next day stressor-related negative emotions. Participants (N = 1,588) from the National Study of Daily Experiences II (NSDE II) and the Midlife in the United States survey (MIDUS II) answered questions about stressors and emotion across eight days. People high on trait positive affect reported less negative affect the day following a stressor. On days when people experienced a stressor and higher than average state positive affect, they experienced less negative emotion the following day. This held true regardless of whether people were high or low on trait positive affect. Positive affect can help explain both who and when people will have attenuated emotional responses to stressful events.

Download Full-text

Daily intra-individual variability of positive but not negative affect impacts moderate to vigorous physical activity

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.3411 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽

Author(s):

K Wierenga ◽

S.E Moore ◽

D.M Fresco

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Negative Affect ◽

Positive Affect ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

The United States ◽

Individual Variability ◽

Time Span ◽

World Health ◽

Positive And Negative Affect ◽

Latent Trajectory

Abstract Introduction The World Health Organization recommends moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for 150 minutes per week to reduce the risk of primary or secondary cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Adherence to these recommendations is only around 30% in the US. Identifying reliable barriers or facilitators of time spent in MVPA is a critical component to primary and secondary CVD prevention. Negative affect, including feelings such as being sad, nervous, and restless, is known to diminish time spent in MVPA, whereas positive affect, which includes feelings such as being calm, happy, or full of life is associated with MVPA increases. Relatedly, variability in positive but not negative affect is associated with poorer physical health. What is unclear is how intra-individual variability of positive and negative affect may influence MVPA. Research question What is the influence of variations (i.e. intra-individual day-to-day) in positive and negative affect on variations in MVPA? Method. Guided by the individual and self-management theory, a secondary analysis was conducted of data from a nationwide US sample of participants. Using data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Refresh Wave Study Daily Diary Project, we analyzed eight consecutive days of affect and MVPA assessments in a sample of 553 healthy participants (54% women, 86% white, mean age = 48.7 years). Latent trajectory models were computed to determine the influence of daily positive and negative affect on daily MVPA. Results Affect variability, calculated as the standard deviation of daily positive and negative affect, was positively correlated with MVPA variability. An autoregressive cross-lagged latent trajectory model provided the best fit to examine relationships between positive affect, negative affect, and MVPA (χ2=946.54, df=379, p<0.001; CFI=0.95; RMSEA=0.05, SRMR = 0.06). Positive, but not negative affect, intercepts were significantly correlated with MVPA trajectories (r=0.19, p<0.05). Individuals who initially begin the eight day time span with a higher reported positive affect show a modest increase in MVPA over the same time period (r=0.19, p<0.001). By contrast, individuals evidencing increases in positive affect over the time span showed a decreased rate of change in MVPA over that same time (r=−0.32, p<0.001). Conclusion The association of positive affect to MVPA necessitates a complex analysis to more fully understand intra-individual-level interactions. Relatively higher positive affect with fewer fluctuations was associated with greater MVPA. These intriguing preliminary findings must be considered in light of important limitations (e.g., only eight days of data; affect and MVPA do not necessarily follow diurnal patterns). Still, findings support the view that beginning with positive affect may lead to stability in time spent in MVPA. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Download Full-text

Volunteers’ Felt Respect and Its Associations With Volunteering Retention, Daily Affect, Well-being, and Mortality

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gby117 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 75 (8) ◽

pp. 1625-1636 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Dwight C K Tse

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Negative Affect ◽

Positive Affect ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

National Sample ◽

Retention Rates ◽

Mortality Data ◽

Volunteer Work ◽

Daily Affect

Abstract Objectives Volunteering is associated with improved physical and psychological well-being; volunteers feeling more respect for their work may have better well-being than their counterparts. Methods This study investigated the effects of felt respect for volunteer work on volunteering retention, daily affect, well-being (subjective, psychological, and social), and mortality. The study analyzed survey and mortality data from a national sample of 2,677 volunteers from the Midlife in the United States Study over a 20-year span. Daily affect data were obtained from a subsample of 1,032 volunteers. Results Compared to volunteers feeling less respect from others, those feeling more respect (a) were more likely to continue volunteering 10 and 20 years later, (b) had higher levels of daily positive affect and lower levels of daily negative affect, and (c) had higher levels of well-being over a 20-year period. The effect of felt respect on mortality was not statistically significant. Discussion Greater level of felt respect for volunteer work is positively related to volunteers’ retention rates, daily affective experience, and well-being.

Download Full-text

Correlations of Subjective and Social Well-Being With Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity in Older Adults—A Population-Based Study

The Journals of Gerontology Series A ◽

10.1093/gerona/glab065 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Shuyun Chen ◽

Amaia Calderón-Larrañaga ◽

Marguerita Saadeh ◽

Ing-Mari Dohrn ◽

Anna-Karin Welmer

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Positive Affect ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Social Participation ◽

Oldest Old ◽

Well Being ◽

Sitting Time ◽

National Study

Abstract Background Subjective and social well-being, avoiding sedentary behavior (SB), and engaging in physical activity (PA) are important factors for health in older adults, but the extent to which they are related to each other remains unclear. We aimed to investigate these correlations, and whether they differ by age. Method A cross-sectional study was carried out in 595 people aged 66 years and older, from the Swedish National study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen. Subjective and social well-being (life satisfaction, positive and negative affect, social connections, social support, and social participation) were assessed through validated questionnaires and activPAL3 accelerometers provided information on SB and PA. Data were analyzed using multi-adjusted quantile regression models. Results Higher positive affect was significantly associated with less daily sitting time (β = −27.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −47.77, −6.39) and higher levels of light PA (LPA) (β = 40.67, 95% CI: 21.06, 60.28). Higher levels of social support and social participation were associated with less daily sitting time (β = −22.79, 95% CI: −39.97, −5.62; and β = −21.22, 95% CI: −39.99, −2.44) and more time in LPA (β = 23.86, 95% CI: 4.91, 42.81; and β = 25.37, 95% CI: 6.27, 44.47). Stratified analyses suggested that the associations of positive affect and social participation were strongest for individuals aged 80 years and older. Conclusions Our results suggest that older adults with higher levels of subjective and social well-being spend less time sitting and engage more in PA. This was especially evident among the oldest-old individuals. Future research should longitudinally investigate the directionality of these correlations.

Download Full-text

Group Game-Based Physical Activity Effects on Positive and Negative Affect of Male Adolescent Prisoners

Jurnal RAP (Riset Aktual Psikologi Universitas Negeri Padang) ◽

10.24036/rapun.v12i1.112204 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 57

Author(s):

Free Dirga Dwatra

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Negative Affect ◽

Positive Affect ◽

Justice System ◽

Juvenile Justice System ◽

Well Being ◽

Positive And Negative Affect ◽

Mental Well Being ◽

Male Prisoners ◽

Problem Drug

This report arises from a larger study that aims to investigate the mental health of adolescent prisoners. The Indonesian juvenile justice system locks up more than half of young offenders (Pratiwi & Faridah, 2019). Questions have been rise about the mental well-being of the adolescent. This study, with a sample of 28 male prisoners age between 14 to 18 years old, explored the effects of physical activity using group-based games on mental heath of adolescent prisoners. These participants showed many behavioral and emotional problems before entering and during their time in prison, such as: family problem, drug abuse,problems with peers and officers. The participants had three sessions of game activities in one week. The pretest-posttest design was used to collect the data. This experimental study measured with positive affect and negative affect scale (PANAS) by Watson, Clark, and Carey (1988). Results show that group games-based physical activity can increase positive affect M= 4.750 (Sig = 0.001) from pretest to posttest, and decrease negative affect M= 2.968 (Sig = 0.003) from pretest to posttest. This study aims to show that that group games-based physical activity can make their lives inside the prison would be meaningful.

Download Full-text

Social Media Use and Emotional Well-Being: The Role of Physical Activity

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.3340 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 931-931

Author(s):

Xin Yao Lin ◽

Margie Lachman

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Media ◽

Negative Affect ◽

Positive Affect ◽

Media Use ◽

Well Being ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Social Media Use ◽

The Relationship

Abstract There are mixed findings as to whether social media use (SMU) is positively or negatively related to well-being (positive/negative affect), and this relationship varies by age. The current study seeks to further explore this relationship by examining physical activity (PA) as a potential mediator at both a within (intraindividual) and between-person (interindividual) level across adulthood. The data are from the Midlife in the United States Refresher eight-day daily diary study (N=782, ages 25-75) with self-reported frequency of SMU, PA, and well-being (positive/negative affect). Multilevel structural equation modeling simultaneously tested how the relationships between the variables differed at both the between- and within-person levels. Between-person results showed that across the week, those who reported less SMU reported engaging in more PA, and more PA was associated with more positive affect. PA significantly mediated the relationship between SMU and positive affect for midlife and older adults, but not for younger adults. Effects for negative affect were not significant. Within-person results indicated that days with more PA were associated with more positive affect; however, PA did not mediate the relationship between SMU and positive or negative affect. These findings suggest the benefits of engaging in PA on one’s positive emotional well-being at both the between- and within-person levels. However, for midlife and older adults, more SMU across the week may take away time from engaging in PA, which in turn lowers their positive affect. Implications of the effects of SMU on PA and well-being across adulthood are discussed.

Download Full-text

Pileup of Insufficient Sleep and Day-to-Day Trajectories of Affective and Physical Well-Being

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.431 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 113-113

Author(s):

Soomi Lee

Keyword(s):

Negative Affect ◽

Multilevel Models ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Vicious Cycle ◽

Linear Quadratic ◽

Insufficient Sleep ◽

Diary Data ◽

Rate Of Increase

Abstract This study examined whether and how pileup of insufficient sleep is associated with day-to-day trajectories of affective and physical well-being. Participants from the Midlife in the United States Study (N=1,795) provided diary data for eight days. Pileup of insufficient sleep was operationalized as the number of consecutive nights with <6 hours of sleep. Multilevel models evaluated the linear, quadratic, and cubic effects of pileup of insufficient sleep on daily well-being, adjusting for sociodemographic covariates. Daily negative affect increased and positive affect decreased in curvilinear fashion as the pileup of insufficient sleep increased. For example, daily negative affect increased, but the rate of increase decelerated as the pileup of insufficient sleep increased. In the days most distal to baseline, the rate of increase in negative affect accelerated again. Results were consistent for physical symptoms. Findings suggest that making efforts to break the vicious cycle of insufficient sleep may protect daily well-being.

Download Full-text

The Impact of Game Outcome on Affect of Military Wheelchair Basketball Players

Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly ◽

10.1123/apaq.2018-0164 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 378-387

Author(s):

Paul E. Yeatts ◽

Ronald Davis ◽

Jun Oh ◽

Gwang-Yon Hwang

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Negative Affect ◽

Positive Affect ◽

Well Being ◽

Wheelchair Basketball ◽

Basketball Players ◽

Administrative Personnel ◽

Sport Competition ◽

Game Outcome ◽

The Impact

Participation in physical activity has been shown to improve components of psychological well-being (i.e., affect). Programs such as the Warrior Games have been designed to promote physical activity in wounded military personnel. However, sport competition typically yields a winner and a loser (i.e., game outcome). The experience of a win or a loss may affect how wounded athletes respond to game outcome. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the affective changes (positive affect, negative affect, tranquility, and fatigue) according to game outcome in a sample of wounded military wheelchair basketball players participating in a weekend tournament. The results indicated that the participants who experienced a win reported significantly higher positive affect and tranquility and significantly lower negative affect than those experiencing a loss. These findings have important implications for wounded veteran athletes, as well as coaches and administrative personnel.

Download Full-text