TY - JOUR
T1 - Longitudinal relations between psychological distress and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity
T2 - A latent change score approach
AU - Gucciardi, Daniel F.
AU - Law, Kwok Hong
AU - Guerrero, Michelle D.
AU - Quested, Eleanor
AU - Thøgersen-Ntoumani, Cecilie
AU - Ntoumanis, Nikos
AU - Jackson, Ben
PY - 2020/3
Y1 - 2020/3
N2 - Objectives: The effect of physical inactivity on mental health risk is well established; however, less is known about about how psychological distress might deter participation in physical activity. Guided by advancements in the treatment of longitudinal data, the aim of this study was to examine patterns and predictors of change in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and psychological distress (e.g., feeling nervous, worthless). Design method: Australian adults (4944 females, M age = 34.63 years ±5.34; 4322 males, M age = 37.51 years ±6.14) provided baseline data as part of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) and were followed for measurements every two years for 10 years. Results: Latent change score analyses revealed support for a reciprocal effects model, whereby change in MVPA and psychological distress occurred as a function of individuals’ prior levels of, and/or prior change in these variables. Conclusions: This investigation is the first to document that changes in MVPA and psychological distress are coupled temporally. Notably, we observed that individuals’ distress levels at a given time point predicted subsequent change on both MVPA and distress; a finding which provides novel and important insight into how adults’ activity levels and psychological distress fluctuate relative to one another.
AB - Objectives: The effect of physical inactivity on mental health risk is well established; however, less is known about about how psychological distress might deter participation in physical activity. Guided by advancements in the treatment of longitudinal data, the aim of this study was to examine patterns and predictors of change in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and psychological distress (e.g., feeling nervous, worthless). Design method: Australian adults (4944 females, M age = 34.63 years ±5.34; 4322 males, M age = 37.51 years ±6.14) provided baseline data as part of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) and were followed for measurements every two years for 10 years. Results: Latent change score analyses revealed support for a reciprocal effects model, whereby change in MVPA and psychological distress occurred as a function of individuals’ prior levels of, and/or prior change in these variables. Conclusions: This investigation is the first to document that changes in MVPA and psychological distress are coupled temporally. Notably, we observed that individuals’ distress levels at a given time point predicted subsequent change on both MVPA and distress; a finding which provides novel and important insight into how adults’ activity levels and psychological distress fluctuate relative to one another.
KW - Depression
KW - Exercise
KW - Longitudinal
KW - Physical activity
KW - Stress
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85061836955&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.02.005
DO - 10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.02.005
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85061836955
SN - 1469-0292
VL - 47
JO - Psychology of Sport and Exercise
JF - Psychology of Sport and Exercise
M1 - 101490
ER -