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Home / American Journal of Health Behavior, Volume 36, Number 6

Relations Between Anhedonia and Physical Activity

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Objective: To examine the relation of 2 measures of anhedonia—a specific facet of depression indicative of inability to experience pleasure—to physical activity (PA). Method: Cross-sectional correlational survey study of 157 college students (73% female, M age 19.9 years). Results: One or both measures of anhedonia were inversely associated with walking frequency, moderate-intensity PA frequency and duration, and vigorous-intensity PA frequency and duration (βs -16 to -.27, Ps < .05). Some of these associations were statistically mediated by lower PA enjoyment. Conclusions: Deficient pleasure may be an important affective mechanism underlying PA behavior.

Keywords: ANHEDONIA; DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS; EXERCISE; PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: Departments of Preventive Medicine and Psychology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA. [email protected]

Publication date: 01 November 2012

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  • The American Journal of Health Behavior seeks to improve the quality of life through multidisciplinary health efforts in fostering a better understanding of the multidimensional nature of both individuals and social systems as they relate to health behaviors.

    The Journal aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of personal attributes, personality characteristics, behavior patterns, social structure, and processes on health maintenance, health restoration, and health improvement; to disseminate knowledge of holistic, multidisciplinary approaches to designing and implementing effective health programs; and to showcase health behavior analysis skills that have been proven to affect health improvement and recovery.

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