Enhancing psychological rewards of self-directed exercise in free-living environments: Can savoring help?

Abstract

Enhancing immediate psychological rewards of physical activity (PA) may promote sustained engagement. However, most research has been conducted in controlled lab settings. Two field studies examined affective responses to self-directed PA in free-living environments and explored the potential of savoring as an intervention. In Study 1, young adults (N = 140; M_age = 20.7; female = 57.5%; White = 54.7%) completed surveys before and after a self-directed PA session at a fitness facility. Participants reported increases in pleasant-activated (e.g. energetic) and pleasant-deactivated (e.g. relaxed) affect with a reduction in unpleasant-activated (e.g. stress) affect. Unpleasant-deactivated affect (e.g. tired) remained unchanged. Study 2 (N = 266; M_age = 20.8; female = 57%; White = 54.5%) replicated these findings and introduced a savoring intervention embedded in the pre-PA survey. The condition × time interaction was not significant. Exploratory analyses showed that savoring during PA was associated with more positive affective outcomes. Self-directed PA in everyday life fosters meaningful psychological benefits that savoring has the potential to amplify.