Running toward substance use recovery: Does delay discounting mediate the relationship between physical activity and...

Recovery from substance use disorders is multifactorial with psychosocial functioning, such as quality of life (QOL), playing a particularly important role. Delay discounting, the degree to which individuals devaluate a reinforcer as a function of the delay to its receipt, is associated with QOL. Moreover, evidence shows that physical activity may decrease delay discounting rates. The present study aims to examine associations among physical activity, delay discounting, and QOL, and investigate the mediating role of delay discounting in the relationship between physical activity and QOL domains.

Data was collected from the International Quit & Recovery Registry (IQRR), and comprised of 267 participants (67% women) who reported being in recovery from substance use disorders. Participants completed the Health Behaviors Questionnaire (physical activity was measured using the fitness domain), a delay discounting minute task (higher delay discounting rates indicate a preference for smaller, sooner rewards), the World Health Organization QOL questionnaire, as well as demographics and substance use disorders-related questions. Multivariate linear regression was used to test associations between physical activity with delay discounting, and physical activity with each QOL domain. Mediation analyses were conducted to evaluate the mediating role of delay discounting in the relationship between physical activity and QOL domain.

Higher levels of physical activity were associated with greater valuation of the future (lower delay discounting rates; p<.001) and higher levels of physical (p < .001), and environmental (p=.001) QOL. Delay discounting mediated the relationship between physical activity and physical (p=.004), and environmental (p<.001) QOL.

Physical activity can be an important tool in the treatment and recovery of substance use disorders, as it is associated with future-oriented choices, which in turn contributes to improving the QOL of those individuals.