Affective response as a mediator of the association between the physical and social environment and physical activity behavior

Perceptions of the physical and social environment have been shown to be predictive of physical activity (PA) behavior. However, the mechanisms of this association have not been examined. OBJECTIVE: Affective response to PA was examined as a putative mediator of the association between perceptions of the PA environment and subsequent PA behavior. METHODS: As part of a PA promotion pilot study, 59 low-active overweight or obese but otherwise healthy adults completed real-time assessments of the perceived physical and social PA environment, affective response to PA, and PA behavior over a 6-month period. RESULTS: As hypothesized, decreased latency to and greater duration of subsequent PA was predicted by engaging in PA with a partner (b=17.24, SE=.45, p