IS PLEASURE ENOUGH TO MOTIVATE EXERCISE? EXPLORING HOW ANTECEDENT APPRAISALS SHAPE CORE AFFECTIVE EXERCISE EXPERIENCES DIFFERENTLY BY GENDER

Purpose: A growing body of research emphasizes the role of affective processes in shaping physical activity (PA) behavior, particularly in adolescence - a critical period for the formation of emotional associations with exercise. According to the Affective-Reflective Theory, PA behavior is driven by both reflective evaluations and affective valuations, the latter developing from repeated emotional responses to past activity. Affective Exercise Experiences (AFFEXX) represent the consciously accessible portion of affective valuation. According to this model, core affective exercise experiences (pleasure, energy, calmness) are informed by discrete antecedent appraisals, such as interest, competence, or honor. However, little is known about how these appraisals predict core affective responses, and whether these mechanisms differ by gender. Moreover, the model suggests that core affective experiences influence PA behavior indirectly, through the motivational orientation of attraction. This study investigated: (1) the role of cognitive antecedent appraisals in predicting core affective exercise experiences; (2) gender differences in these associations; and (3) whether the relationship between affective experiences and PA behavior is moderated by attraction. Methods: Affective exercise experiences were assessed using the 36-item AFFEXX Questionnaire, with items rated between opposing statements about physical activity on a 7-point Likert scale. Weekly moderate and vigorous PA were calculated using the IPAQ-SF. Linear regression models tested whether antecedent appraisals predicted affective responses differently by gender. Moderation analyses examined whether attraction moderated the association between affective responses and PA behavior. Results: A sample of 808 participants (age = 13 ± 1; 46% female) completed a battery of self-report measures. Interest (b = 0.40, p\0.001), competence (b = 0.35, p\0.001), and pride/honor (b = 0.29, p\0.001) were significant predictors of pleasure. Gender moderated the effects of some appraisals on affect: for instance, competence predicted pleasure more strongly in females (b = 0.40) than in males (b = 0.28). Attraction significantly predicted vigorous PA (b = 0.25, p\0.001), and moderated the relationship between pleasure and vigorous PA (interaction b = 0.07, p = 0.014). Simple slope analyses showed that the effect of pleasure on vigorous PA was significant at high levels of attraction (b = 0.17, p = 0.019), but not at low levels (b = 0.02, p = 0.712). No moderation effects were found for energy or calmness. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of considering both gender-specific appraisal patterns and motivational orientations in understanding the affective basis of PA behavior. The interaction between pleasure and attraction may offer new insights for affectively informed intervention strategies.