Perceived social integration predicts future physical activity through positive affect and spontaneous thoughts.

ABSTRACT: The present research evaluated the social, affective, and cognitive processes underlying sustained patterns of health behavior as articulated by the upward spiral theory of lifestyle change. Specifically, we tested whether positive affect experienced during physical activity changes over time in tandem with perceived social integration (PSI), and whether PSI is associated with future activity indirectly through sociality during physical activity, positive affect during physical activity, and positive spontaneous thoughts about physical activity. Adult participants (N = 226) reported daily on their PSI, physical activity behavior, and affect during physical activity for 11 weeks. Once every 2 weeks, they also reported on features of a specific bout of physical activity, including how social

SUBMITTER: Rice EL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9141494 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature