The Bidirectional Relationship between Emotional Change and Physical Movement Activities: An Analysis Using Propensity Score Matching Methods

Zeyu Wu, Yuuki Nishiyama, Yuya Shibuya

Abstract: This study investigates the bidirectional relationship between emotional changes and physical activity, specifically focusing on the number of steps taken. Using Propensity Score Matching (PSM), we analyzed how fluctuations in emotional states influence physical activity and, conversely, how increases/decreases in daily steps impact subsequent emotional well-being. This study uses a dataset containing data on daily steps and emotional status collected via a smartphone application (N=123). Our findings indicate that increases in the number of steps significantly increase the subsequent emotion report positively. Additionally, changes in emotional status have relations with a subsequent number of steps. These results suggest a reciprocal influence between emotional and physical activities, highlighting the importance of integrating physical and mental health interventions.