Body surveillance and affective judgments of physical activity in daily life. (March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gilchrist, Jenna D.; Pila, Eva; Lucibello, Kristen M.; Sabiston, Catherine M.; Conroy, David E.
• Is Part Of: Body image. Volume 36(2021)
• Page Start: 127
• Page End: 133
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Subjects: Exercise -- Pleasure -- Enjoyment -- Ecological momentary assessment -- Objectification theory; Body image -- Periodicals; Body image -- Research -- Periodicals; Body Image -- Periodicals; 306.4613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.11.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1740-1445

Abstract

Highlights: There is considerable variability in body surveillance and affective judgments. On average, body surveillance is associated with less favorable affective judgments. When body surveillance is higher than usual, affective judgments are less favorable. The utility of affective judgments are limited if body surveillance is present. Abstract: Affective judgments are one of the strongest predictors of physical activity. Engaging in body surveillance during physical activity is theorized to reduce access to pleasant affective experiences thereby compromising the influence of affective judgments. However, empirical tests of this relationship are lacking. This study examined associations between body surveillance during physical activity and affective judgments (i.e., enjoyment and pleasure) of physical activity. Participants ( N = 89; 53 % women, Mage = 20.32 years; SDage = 1.59) completed an experience sampling protocol for 7 days and provided 7 self-reports/day. Participants reported their body surveillance when engaged in physical activity followed by their affective judgments of physical activity. At the within-person level, participants reported more negative affective judgments during instances when body surveillance was higher than usual. At the between-person level, participants higher in body surveillance reported more negative affective judgments on average. These findings extend correlates of body surveillance to include less favorable affective judgments. Although there is support for targeting affective judgments to promote physical activity, the utility of such efforts may be limited if body surveillance is present. These findings point to a new target for potentially enhancing affective judgements and the promotion of physical activity.