Associations of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior with Optimism and Positive Affect in Older Women

Rita H. Ryu (), Britta Larsen, Andrea LaCroix, Steve Nguyen, Alex Ivan B. Posis, Benjamin T. Schumacher, Suzanne C. Danhauer, Hilary A. Tindle and John Bellettiere
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Rita H. Ryu: University of California San Diego, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science
Britta Larsen: University of California San Diego, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science
Andrea LaCroix: University of California San Diego, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science
Steve Nguyen: University of California San Diego, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science
Alex Ivan B. Posis: University of California San Diego, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science
Benjamin T. Schumacher: University of California San Diego, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science
Suzanne C. Danhauer: Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Hilary A. Tindle: Vanderbilt University
John Bellettiere: University of California San Diego, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science

Journal of Happiness Studies, 2023, vol. 24, issue 2, No 14, 717-743

Abstract: Abstract Psychological well-being is linked to healthy aging in older women, but associations with health behaviors are not well understood. Our study aims to evaluate the relationships between objectively-measured physical behavior (including physical activity and sedentary behavior) with optimism and positive affect in a diverse sample of older women. Our cross-sectional study of 4168 American women (aged 63–99) with accelerometer-measured physical behavior from the Objective Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health Study assessed associations using multiple linear regression. Effect modification by age, race and ethnicity, social support, and number of chronic conditions was examined as well. In unadjusted models, positive associations for physical activity and negative associations for sedentary behaviors were generally linear for optimism and positive affect. In adjusted models, every one-hour increment in weekly moderate-vigorous physical activity was associated with higher optimism by 0.4 score points [Revised 6-item Life Orientation Test, 95% CI = 0.2, 0.6] and positive affect by 0.6 score points [modified Differential Emotions Scale, 95% CI = 0.2, 0.9]. One-hour increments in light physical activity were associated with higher positive affect [0.2 score points; 95% CI = 0.03, 0.33] while one-hour increments in sedentary behavior patterns were associated with lower positive affect [-0.1 score points; 95% CI = − 0.10, − 0.02). Effect modification by age, race and ethnicity, social support, and number of chronic conditions was not observed. In conclusion, associations between physical behavior with optimism and positive affect were modest but suggest greater activity and less sedentary time are associated with greater psychological well-being in older women.

Keywords: Psychological well-being; Healthy aging; Accelerometer; Health behaviors; Sitting time; Cross-sectional (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1007/s10902-022-00612-4

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