Introduction:
Both physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) may evoke positive emotions. Previous research has mostly examined these emotions within respective individuals (e.g., SB enjoyment predicting SB of the same person), and SB was considered to be predicted by SB-specific emotions.
Purpose:
This study investigated within-person and across-person associations between positive emotions (PA enjoyment and SB enjoyment) and sedentary time.
Method:
Data were merged from two longitudinal studies including 544 dyads (1,089 participants) aged 9-90 years. In each dyad, one person (the target) reported: (a) spending most waking hours sitting and/or not meeting WHO physical activity recommendations at baseline, and (b) aimed to reduce sedentary time. The other person (the partner) supported respective behavioral change. Enjoyment of PA and SB was measured using the Groningen Enjoyment Questionnaire. Sedentary time was objectively assessed via accelerometers at baseline (T1) and at 8-month follow-up (T2). Regression analyses controlled for baseline sedentary time.
Results:
Several within- and across-dyad associations emerged. Among target persons, higher PA enjoyment (T1) predicted lower sedentary time (T2). Greater SB enjoyment (T1) was related to higher sedentary time at T1 for both dyad members. Across-person effects were also found: partners' SB enjoyment (T1) was associated with higher sedentary time in target persons at T1, suggesting shared behavioral tendencies. Conversely, partners' PA enjoyment (T1) predicted lower sedentary time among target persons at T2, indicating a potential protective interpersonal effect.
Conclusions:
The findings emphasize the dual role of enjoyment—PA enjoyment helps reduce sedentary time, while SB enjoyment maintains inactivity. Interpersonal influences underline the importance of dyadic interventions that enhance PA enjoyment in both members to facilitate long-term reductions in sedentary behavior.