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Examining Whether Affective Mechanisms Explain the Relationship between Physical Activity and Anxiety and Depression utilizing Real-time Data Capture

Award Number: F31MH142037
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/08/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/07/2027

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Examining Whether Affective Mechanisms Explain the Relationship between Physical Activity and Anxiety and Depression utilizing Real-time Data Capture - Project Summary As of 2023, 32.2% of adults (≥18 years) reported having anxiety and depression, with less than half receiving treatment. At the same time, 46.3% of adults do not meet the physical activity guidelines. Both poor mental health and physical inactivity lead to several chronic diseases and overall increased mortality. Therefore, inter- ventions attentive to improving anxiety and depression symptoms, are needed to inform prevention strategies and integrative care approaches. The extant literature suggests an inverse relationship between physical activity and anxiety and depression symptoms. However, across interventions, the size of the observed reduction in anxiety and depression has varied across different modes (e.g., strength-based, aerobic-based, mind-body) and doses (i.e., intensity, duration, and frequency) of physical activity, and may not be sustained long-term. There- fore, understanding the underlying mechanisms is needed to develop more effective interventions that lead to immediate and long-term improvements. Although there are plausible biological mechanisms, psychological me- diating mechanisms underlying these effects are less understood. How an individual subjectively feels (e.g., pleasant/unpleasant, bad/good) during physical activity may be a critical factor contributing to sustained physical activity behavior and reduced anxiety and depression. People are more likely to sustain engagement in behaviors that bring feelings of pleasure and enjoyment, leading to more positive emotions and optimal well-being through a positive feedback loop. However, intervention using strategies to increase positive experiences during physical activity to reduce anxiety and depression symptoms is lacking. The proposed training project will leverage a currently-funded five-month cross-over randomized control trial. The study provides affect-based physical activity goals targeting positive affective experiences. Physically inactive adults with overweight or obesity (N=280) will receive either daily affect- or intensity-based physical activity goals (8-weeks each with a 2-week wash-out pe- riod). Half of the participants in the affect-based goal (N=140) will receive an enhancement using the mindfulness practice of savoring, which involves attention deployment and gratitude making to increase the saliency of posi- tive emotions during physical activity. Aim 1 will test the between-subject effect of the physical activity goals on changes in anxiety and depression collected via questionnaire at baseline, mid-, and post-study. While aims 2 and 3 utilize ecological momentary assessment to examine the within-subject effects of how the physical activity goal influences day-level general affect through affective response and how engagement and frequency of pos- itive valance words moderates affective response and day-level general affect, respectively. Findings could guide enhanced physical activity prescriptions to support long-term adherence and provide anxiety and depression improvements. Supported by a strong mentorship team with complementary expertise, this proposal aligns with a cohesive training plan that will form the ideal foundation for an independent career examining psychological and environmental factors that influence physical activity behaviors, as a prevention strategy for mental health.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $50,114 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	6/11/2026	NEW	$50,114
														Subtotal = $50,114

Grand Total All Awards = $50,114

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Examining Whether Affective Mechanisms Explain the Relationship between Physical Activity and Anxiety and Depression utilizing Real-time Data Capture

Award Number: F31MH142037

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/08/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/07/2027

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