Associations between physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and stress using ecological momentary assessment: A scoping review

Background: Physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) have previously been seen to be associated with stress. However, observed associations have been inconsistent in direction. Research tends to examine associations at one given time point without considering how these constructs change over time. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is one potential method to examine how the relationships between PA or SB and stress change over time taking variations in PA/SB and stress within and between days into consideration. Objectives: This scoping review aimed to examine the concurrent and prospective relationships between PA/SB and stress and vice versa, using EMA methodology. Design: 5 online data bases were used to search for EMA research that included measures of PA/SB and stress, where a PA/SB-stress relationship was examined. Searches were run up until February 2022. Papers were assessed for eligibility for inclusion, with 33 papers found to fit the required criteria. Results: 28 of the included studies focussed on PA, with 2 focussing on SB, and 3 on both PA and SB. Studies used a mix of between- and within-person analyses as well as examining associations over concurrent and/or prospective time frames. Taking into consideration analyses and time frame, results were inconclusive, with approximately half of the studies finding no association. Overall findings appear to be mixed. However, some evidence on a within-person level suggests that stress is associated with subsequent lower levels of PA, as well as PA being associated with lower levels of subsequent stress. Conclusions: Future research should investigate the impact of the way stress is quantified, different intensities of PA and the context of both PA and SB in order to get a better understanding of the associations between PA/SB and stress. In addition, more detailed studies are needed to explore personal and contextual factors that could influence these associations is warranted.