Momentary negative affect is lower during mindful movement than while sitting: An experience sampling study. (July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Chih-Hsiang; Conroy, David E.
• Is Part Of: Psychology of sport and exercise. Volume 37(2018)
• Page Start: 109
• Page End: 116
• Publication Date: 2018-07
• Subjects: Mindful movement -- Ecological momentary assessment -- Mind-body relations -- Movement-based behaviors -- Affective states; Sports -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Sports -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Periodicals; Societies, Medical -- Periodicals; Psychology; Sports; Exercise; Societies, Medical; Sports -- Aspect psychologique -- Périodiques; Exercice -- Aspect psychologique -- Périodiques; 613.71019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2018.05.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1469-0292

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Movement-based behaviors and mindfulness can decrease many aspects of negative affect (e.g., stress, anxiety, depression). It is unclear whether mindfulness during waking movement-based behaviors (e.g., moving, standing, sitting) influences the associations between those movement-based behaviors and negative affect. Objective: This study tested whether situational mindfulness moderated associations between (1) usual moving/standing behavior and negative affect, or (2) momentary moving/standing behavior and negative affect. Design: A smartphone-based, 14-day experience sampling study was conducted to assess college students' daily waking movement-based behaviors and subjective experiences. Method: A multilevel model was estimated to predict momentary negative affect from a variety of predictors including the interaction between mindfulness and movement-based behaviors. Results: Participants' momentary negative affect was lower when moving (versus sitting) if they were more mindful than usual at that moment (b = 0.10, p < .001). People also reported less negative affect while moving (b = −0.70, p < .001) or standing (b = −0.51, p < .001) than sitting. Conclusions: These results extend prior work by showing that mindfulness during movement-based behaviors is associated with less momentary negative affect. Integrating mindfulness practices with daily movement-based behaviors may lead to greater mental health benefits and this hypothesis should be tested in experimental research. Highlights: College students' daily postures and movements are associated with negative affect. Decreased negative affect while moving mindfully compared to sitting is observed. Experience sampling method identifies within-but not between-person associations. Experimental methods are needed to test the synergetic effect of mindful movements.