Using Ecological Momentary Assessment to Evaluate Current Physical Activity

Table 3

Using EMA to evaluate PA among adults—a literature review compilation (2007–2012).

Authors (year)	Aim	Material	Timing	Activity/objective tool/EMA tool
Vansteelandt et al. (2007) [32]	Using EMA to investigate associations between drive for thinness, emotional status, momentary urge to be physically active, and PA among adults with eating disorders	♀ 32; 𝑋=21.6±6.7; (15–37 years); BMI=19.4±4.4	(i) 7 days; (ii) 9 times a day; (iii) 63 surveys	urge to be physically active and PA, positive and negative emotional states/p
Dunton et al. (2009) [33]	Using EMA to investigate time-lag of submitted survey answers and to investigate effects of empirically supported social, cognitive, affective, and physiological factors supporting engagement in PA among adults	𝑛=23; ♀ 91%; 𝑋=60.65±8.22; (50–76 years); BMI=29.80±6.29	(i) 2 weeks; (ii) 4 times a day; (iii) every 4 h; (iv) 2 reminders every 10 min; (v) 45 min to fill out a survey	current activity, how long (min), emotional status, and self-efficacy—select from the list/e
Kanning and Schlicht (2010) [34]	Analysis of association between daily activities and mood among healthy people	𝑛=13; ♂ 4/♀ 9; M = 56.5; (52–59 years)	(i) 10 weeks (from November 2006 to February 2007); (ii) 1–3 physically active episodes per day	current activity—unrestricted answer, mood/p
Rouse and Biddle (2010) [35]	Using EMA to assess PA and SB patterns of university students	𝑛=84; ♂ 46; 𝑋1=20.2±2.03; ♀ 38; 𝑋2=19.5±1.15	(i) 2 random days (1 weekday and 1 weekend day); (ii) 15 min intervals	current activity—unrestricted answer, with whom and where—select from the list/p
Bond et al. (2011) [36]	Using EMA to examine whether insufficient PA among bariatric surgery patients was due to infrequent PA intensions or inadequate follow through on PA intensions	𝑛=21; ♀ 81%; 𝑋=48.5±2.8; ♀ 6 months after bariatric surgery	(i) 6 days; (ii) in the morning and in the afternoon	PA—unrestricted answer, number of PA minutes (≥10 min), and barriers of PA/Talk Test/e
Dunton et al. (2012) [17]	Testing EMA protocol on mobile phone to assess adults’ PA and SB	𝑛=110; ♂ 30/♀ 79; 𝑋=40.4±9.74; (27–73 years)	(i) 4 days (Saturday–Tuesday); (ii) 8 times per day; (iii) 3 reminders every 5 min	current activity—select from the list/A/E

PA: physical activity; SB: sedentary behavior; EMA: ecological momentary assessment; 𝑛: number of subjects; ♂: males; ♀: females; 𝑋: mean age [years] ± standard deviation; M: median; BMI: body mass index [kg/m²] ± standard deviation; E: electronic diary/questionnaire on mobile phone with MyExperience software [16]; e: electronic diary in handheld computer; p: pencil and paper diary/questionnaire; A: an accelerometer.