When we move, we feel better. And when we feel better, do we move more?
A large international study published in Nature Human Behaviour shows that both are true.
A short walk, walking somewhere instead of driving, or a run after work. Many people know the feeling that physical activity can “boost” them and improve their mood. Scientifically, however, the question is more complex: do we feel better because we have been physically active? Or do we move more when we already feel good?
This very relationship was the focus of the large international study An individual participant data meta-analysis of how physical activity relates to affective well-being in daily life, whose lead authors are Johanna Rehder and Markus Reichert from the University of Salzburg. Professor Steriani Elavsky from the Faculty of Education at University of Ostrava also collaborated on the project.
The research worked with data from 67 studies, involving more than 8,000 participants, 321,000 assessments of psychological well-being, and nearly one million hours of physical activity measurement. The analysis also included baseline data from the Program 4 HAIE study.
A bidirectional relationship
The results show that the relationship between physical activity and well-being works in both directions. When people were more active than usual, they subsequently felt better. And the opposite was also true: when they felt better than usual, they subsequently became more physically active. In other words, physical activity improves mood, but at the same time, how we currently feel influences our engagement in physical activity.
The strongest association was found with the feeling of energy. Physical activity was most strongly linked to people feeling more alert, active, and energetic. In other words, movement does not necessarily make a person instantly “happy.” However, it can wake them up, get them moving, and give them a greater sense of vitality, which in turn creates conditions for them to be more physically active again.
Movement activates rather than calms
An interesting nuance emerged as well. Although physical activity was associated with a more positive mood and greater energy, it was not necessarily linked to calmness. In fact, the study suggests that physical activity was rather negatively associated with feelings of calm. Physical activity often activates us rather than immediately calming us down. At the same time, the results did not provide robust evidence that physical activity directly leads to a reduction in negative emotions such as sadness, anxiety, or anger.
Practical applications
The findings of the study may help in the development of apps and other digital tools that support healthier lifestyles. They show that it is not enough to simply motivate people to move more in general. It is also important to take into account how they currently feel and when support for physical activity is most appropriate.
This issue is also being addressed in research conducted within the DigiWELL project, which focuses on the use of digital technologies to support physical activity and well-being in real time. The aim is to better understand everyday experiences and identify situations in which support for physical activity is most effective.
