Social and Health Sciences: New Publication in Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Age-varying Bi-directional Associations Between Momentary Affect and Movement Behaviors in Children: Evidence From a Multi-wave Ecological Momentary Assessment Study In this paper, Martina Kanning - Chair of Social and Health Sciences, collaborated with researchers of the University of Southern California. The authors conducted a multi-wave ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study and investigated the acute time-varying associations between affect and movement behaviors among youth. The abstract of the article can be found below:
Background:The bi-directional associations between affective states and movement behaviors (e.g., physical activity, sedentary behavior) have been observed in children. It is unclear if the strength of these bidirectional associations varies with age as children transition from childhood to adolescence.
Purpose: This multi-wave ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study investigates the acute time-varyingassociations between affect and movement behaviors among youth.
Methods: Children (N = 195, baseline mean age = 10.72, range = 8–12 years, mean BMI-z = 0.49, 51% female) participated in a six-wave EMA study across three years. Each EMA survey captured momentary positive and negative affect. Time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time in the 15-min window before and after each EMA survey was calculated using accelerometry data. Time-varying effect models (TVEM) examined the acute bi-directional associations between momentary positive/negative affect and MVPA/sedentary time across ages 8 to 14.
Results: Children provided 14,246 valid activity-matched EMA surveys across all waves. TVEM plots revealed that the directionality and the strength (time-varying slopes) of associations between momentary affect and activity levels vary across ages. Positive affect was associated with higher MVPA levels and lower sedentary time at younger ages, whereas negative affect linked to lower MVPA levels and more sedentary time at older ages.
Conclusions: The acute associations between momentary affect and (in)activity levels may vary as a function of children's age. Applying TVEM to intensive longitudinal data could provide valuable information for developing age-tailored interventions that promote healthy lifestyles among children and adolescents.
Bibliographic information:
Yang, C.-H., Zink, J., Belcher, B.R., Kanning, M., & Dunton, G.F. (2021). Age-varying Bi-directional
Associations Between Momentary Affect and Movement Behaviors in Children: Evidence From a Multi-wave Ecological Momentary Assessment Study. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, kaaa124,