Why Would You Run around Chasing a Ball? Embodied and Temporal Emotions during Leisure Time Physical Activity

Abstract

The emotional outcomes of leisure time physical activity have previously been explored in laboratory experiments. To increase understanding of lived experiences, this paper explores the phenomenon through a qualitative lens, exploring real-life stories of how individuals experience emotions when engaging in leisure time physical activity. To illustrate our findings, we present six vignettes reflecting different activity patterns at work and at leisure. Whereas previous research largely focuses on positive emotional outcomes, our findings indicate that both sedentary and physically active adults experience both positive and negative physical activity-induced emotions during leisure. In addition, while previous research has highlighted the calming effect of the socio-spatial activity environment, particularly green spaces, our findings indicate that socio-emotional outcomes may be a key motivator for leisure time physical activity. These findings have significant implications for our understanding of the complexity of physical activity-induced emotions, influencing also physical activity promotion and servicescapes.