Variety and Time in Moderate- to Vigorous-Intensity Physical Activity: Do Contextual Factors Play a Role?

Abstract

Most adults do not meet physical activity guidelines, and novel strategies are needed to increase moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Physical activity variety (PAV), or the number of different activities performed (mode), is positively related to time engaged in MVPA. Contextual factors of MVPA, such as being active with others, engaging in other activities (listening to music) while doing MVPA, and location of MVPA, may add to PAV beyond modality alone, strengthening the relationship between PAV and MVPA and offering a potentially novel strategy to increase MVPA. For this naturalistic prospective study, adults (n = 25; 76.0% female, age = 26.0 ± 8.9 years, BMI = 23.4 ± 2.3 kg/m²) wore activity monitors and recorded activity mode and contextual factors in paper diaries for 3 weeks. PAV was coded as the number of unique activities (MODE), and unique activities by unique location (WHERE), unique companion (WHO), or unique simultaneous activity (OTHER) for each week and overall. Mean variety scores for contextual measures (WHERE, WHO, and OTHER) were significantly larger than mean variety scores for modality alone (MODE) (p < .05). All types of variety were significantly associated with MVPA (rs = .58–.84). For contextual variety, only OTHER significantly increased time spent in MVPA beyond MODE alone in week 3 (Δr = .18, p = .021) and overall (Δr = .19, p = .006). Thus, varying PA modalities while also varying contextual elements may increase MVPA. Encouraging adults to vary how they engage in PA—e.g., listening to music while walking—may be a strategy to support increased MVPA.