Benefits of a Brief Physical Activity Programme on Employees’ Affective Well-being and Momentary Affective States: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Anne Courbalay (1) , Quentin Brandet , Delphine Girard , Nicolas Gillet (2)

1 APCOSS - Activité Physique, Corps, Sport et Santé
2 QualiPsy - Qualité de vie et Santé psychologique [Tours]

The present study examined the effects of a four-week physical activity (PA) programme on employees’ general affective well-being the acute effects of fitness and stretching sessions on momentary affective states. Participants were divided between an experimental (n = 54) and a comparison group (n = 57). After one month, only employees in the experimental group increased their general affective well-being. Moreover, momentary positive affective states were significantly higher after PA sessions, especially after fitness sessions. For both activities, momentary negative affect significantly decreased after PA sessions, with a larger reduction in the levels of high-activated unpleasant affect. In the short and middle terms, brief PA programmes seem relevant to enhance employees’ affective wellbeing. PA programme characteristics are finally discussed.

Keywords: psychological well-being; affective states; physical activity; organizational interventions; work

Domains: Psychology

Anne Courbalay, Quentin Brandet, Delphine Girard, Nicolas Gillet. Benefits of a Brief Physical Activity Programme on Employees’ Affective Well-being and Momentary Affective States: A Quasi-Experimental Study. Journal of Happiness Studies, 2022, 23, pp.2217-2233. ⟨10.1007/s10902-021-00489-9⟩. ⟨hal-03548387⟩