Thesis
AN EXPERIMENTAL TEST OF REMEMBERED AFFECT ON AFFECTIVE ASSOCIATIONS FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
05/2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000007458
Abstract
Traditional approaches to increase physical activity (PA) have largely ignored the role of affect, but recent research suggests that affective factors may be stronger predictors of intentions to exercise and subsequent PA than cognitive factors. The primary aims of this study were to 1) experimentally test remembered positive affect after exercise on positive affective associations and intentions with PA in a natural non-lab setting, and 2) determine whether there is an indirect effect between positive remembered affect and intentions to engage in PA through affective associations. A secondary aim of this project explored whether the remembered affect intervention impacts related constructs of anticipated affect and affective attitudes. Using an ecological remembered affect intervention, participants wrote about remembered positive in-task affect experienced during physical activity (experimental condition) or listed details about a bout of physical activity (e.g., type, time, duration, intensity, location, etc.) immediately following a prescribed 30-minute PA session. Affective associations for PA, anticipated affect, affective attitudes, and intentions to engage in future PA were assessed at baseline and study completion. The intervention significantly increased immediate post-task core affect and positive affective associations at follow-up but did not influence intentions, behavior, or the other affective constructs. Mediation analyses did not support indirect effects through affective associations. These findings suggest that remembered affect interventions may be a useful strategy to increase positive affective associations but may not be an effective strategy to increase PA intentions or behavior. Future research should explore combining remembered affective interventions with other strategies to promote long-term PA behavior changes.
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Details
- Title
- AN EXPERIMENTAL TEST OF REMEMBERED AFFECT ON AFFECTIVE ASSOCIATIONS FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
- Creators
- Robin L Rubey
- Contributors
- Renee E Magnan (Chair)Benjamin O Ladd (Committee Member)Kim L Meidenbauer (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Department of Psychology
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 60
- Identifiers
- 99901221149801842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis