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UBC Theses and Dissertations

Affective dynamics underlying physical activity behaviour engagement : a matter of (continuous) time Ruissen, Geralyn R.

Abstract

The affective processes theorized to underpin, and result from, physical activity behaviour are inherently dynamic. Specifically, both affective processes and physical activity behaviour can be characterized as dynamic, as they are temporally dependent and vary continuously over time. Despite the critical role that time plays in understanding the affective dynamics underlying physical activity behaviour, the prevailing theories and methods do not adequately account for these temporal considerations. The continuous-time paradigm explicitly considers the role of time in the unfolding of dynamic psychological processes. Within this dissertation, I illustrate how a thoughtful consideration of time (using dynamic, continuous-time models) can enrich the conceptualization and modelling of the affective dynamics underlying physical activity engagement. Chapter 1 provides a general overview of affective constructs related to physical activity engagement and an introduction to the continuous-time paradigm. The first study (Chapter 2) is a state-of-the-art review of statistical approaches applicable to data derived from intensive longitudinal methods to elucidate the dynamic psychological processes related to physical activity engagement. Within this chapter, the continuous-time paradigm is compared and contrasted with other contemporary modelling approaches to illustrate the numerous possibilities of continuous-time modelling methods for advancing insights into the dynamic processes underlying physical activity behaviour. Chapter 3 details the application of a hierarchical Bayesian, fully random effects approach to examine the temporal specificity of the underlying dynamic relationship between positive and negative incidental affective states and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity using data derived from the Ambulatory Assessment of Personality, Ecological Context, and Stress Study (AAPECSS; https://osf.io/m3p4v/). The third study (Chapter 4) describes the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis that examines the presence, temporal specificity, and causal dominance of the reciprocal relationships between incidental affect and physical activity in daily life, using a novel random-intercept continuous-time meta-analysis (RI-CTmeta). In Chapter 5, a general discussion is provided in relation to the conceptual and methodological implications of the dissertation studies, the limitations of this body of work, and considerations for future research on the continuous-time affective dynamics that underlie physical activity engagement.

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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International