Creating value in and for everyday life: Ambulatory assessment in physical activity and sedentary behavior research

Abstract

Physical activity and sedentary behavior play a crucial role for both physical and mental health. While epidemiological studies provide crucial evidence for the long-term health effects of physical activity and sedentary behavior, it is less well-known how physical activity and sedentary behavior are related to mental health in everyday life. Ambulatory assessment is a promising approach, referring to various assessment methods that allow studying dynamic behavioral and psychological processes in people’s everyday life (Trull & Ebner-Priemer, 2013). In this symposium, we present research using state-of-the art ambulatory assessment methodology to investigate associations between physical activity, sedentary behavior, and mental health constructs in everyday life. The first two presentation address how associations between physical activity or sedentary behavior and mood are moderated by environmental and social factors in everayday life. The third presentation elaborates on a novel methodological approach using time-series analysis of step count data to identify the resilience process. The three presentations should invite discussions on how ambulatory assessment can be used in sports science to advance our understanding between physical activity, sedentary behavior, and mental health in and for everyday life.

References

Trull, T. J., & Ebner-Priemer, U. (2013). Ambulatory Assessment. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 9(1), 151-176. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-050212-185510