Same-day, cross-day, and upward spiral relations between positive affect and positive health behaviours. Issue 4 (25th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fredrickson, Barbara L.; Arizmendi, Cara; Van Cappellen, Patty
• Is Part Of: Psychology & health. Volume 36:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: 444
• Page End: 460
• Publication Date: 2020-09-25
• Subjects: positive psychology -- nutrition -- physical fitness -- contemplative science -- upward spiral theory of lifestyle change; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; Attitude to Health -- Periodicals; Public Opinion -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; 150
• DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2020.1778696
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0887-0446

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: This project investigated same-day and lagged (i.e., from one day to the next) associations between daily positive affect and three distinct positive health behaviours: physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, and meditation. Cross-day analyses also examined the role of positive affect felt during the targeted health behaviours. Design: Secondary data analyses used a 9-week daily diary study in which midlife adults ( N = 217) were randomized to learn one of two contemplative practices (i.e., mindfulness meditation or loving-kindness meditation) while reporting nightly on their emotions and health behaviours. Results: Results of same-day analyses revealed positive associations, both between-person and within-person, for the three positive health behaviours with daily positive affect. Results of lagged analyses revealed that positive affect experienced during fruit and vegetable intake on a given day predicted next-day fruit and vegetable intake, and that fruit and vegetable intake on a given day predicted next-day positive affect. Conclusion: The observed same-day relations between daily positive affect and engagement in positive health behaviours illuminate one path through which positive affect may contribute to health. The observed cross-day relations reveal a need for interdisciplinary research on mechanisms through which fruit and vegetable intake may shape next-day positive affect.