Can daily affect impact intentions and next day behavior of physical activity? A daily diary study

Background and aims

This study investigated the role of incidental affect on the intention-behavior process of physical activity (PA).

Methods

Daily positive (activated, relaxed, and safe/content) and negative (depressed, anxious, and low-aroused) incidental affects, intention to perform PA, and actual PA were assessed in a sample of 101 college students (17 males and 80 females, age = 21.09 ± 1.57) for 28 days. Bayesian generalized linear multivariate multilevel model was used to predict cross-day intention-behavior profiles (non-intention, exceeding non-intention, unsuccessful intention, and successful intention) with subtypes of affects.

Results

Increased positive affect and decreased negative affect were related to PA intention formation, intention enactment, and exceeding non-intention. Safe/content positive affect was related to intention formation and translation of PA, while exceeding non-intention was uniquely related to activated positive affect. Negative affect showed a carry-over effect on intention translation of PA next day.

Conclusions

Our study findings detailed the role of different incidental affects in the intention-behavior process of PA and we call for more intensive affect measures and rigorous PA intention and behavior assessments to further validate these findings. Practically, our study highlighted the importance that future research should consider incorporating strategies to induce appropriate affective experiences in different stages of intention-behavior process for effective PA interventions.