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Everyday associations between older adults' physical activity, negative affect, and cortisol
Theresa Pauly1, Victoria I Michalowski1, Urs M Nater2
1Department of Psychology, The University of British Columbia.
Summary
Higher daily physical activity in older adults buffers cortisol responses to negative emotions. This research highlights how regular exercise can help manage stress-related neuroendocrine activity in daily life.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Behavioral Medicine
Background:
- Experimental studies link higher physical activity to reduced cortisol responses to stress.
- Previous research often conducted in laboratory settings, necessitating real-world investigations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine if physical activity moderates the association between momentary negative affect and salivary cortisol in older adults.
- To extend laboratory findings to everyday-life contexts for aging populations.
Main Methods:
- 162 older adults (60-87 years) provided daily affect assessments and salivary cortisol samples 4 times/day for 7 days.
- Objective physical activity was measured using hip-worn accelerometers (step counts).
- Multilevel models analyzed data, controlling for diurnal cortisol patterns and individual differences.
Main Results:
- Increased momentary negative affect correlated with higher concurrent cortisol levels.
- Average daily steps significantly moderated this association.
- Higher physical activity (more steps) attenuated the cortisol increase during heightened negative affect.
Conclusions:
- Daily physical activity may buffer cortisol secretion in older adults during stressful moments.
- Physical activity plays a role in modulating the relationship between negative emotions and neuroendocrine responses.
- Promoting physical activity could help mitigate health issues linked to cortisol dysregulation in aging individuals.