Affective Response During Real-World Physical Activity as an Intervention Mediator

Area of Science:

• Exercise science
• Behavioral medicine
• Psychology of physical activity

Background:

• Affective responses to physical activity differ among individuals.
• Real-world affective responses are crucial for sustained physical activity.
• Current interventions do not sufficiently target affective mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize evidence on identifying, assessing, and influencing affective responses during real-world physical activity.
• To inform the development of interventions targeting affective responses to increase physical activity.
• To utilize an experimental medicine framework for a comprehensive review.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of studies on affective responses during physical activity.
• Analysis of methods for assessing affective responses in real-world settings.
• Evaluation of interventions aimed at modifying affective responses.

Main Results:

• Evidence synthesis on the spectrum of affective responses during physical activity.
• Identification of validated methods for real-world affective response assessment.
• Summary of strategies effective in positively influencing affective responses.

Conclusions:

• Affective responses are a critical, modifiable target for increasing physical activity.
• Interventions should focus on enhancing positive affective experiences during exercise.
• Further research is needed to optimize interventions based on affective mechanisms.