University of Texas at Arlington researcher Yue Liao contributed to an international study published on Jun. 8 showing that changes in people's physical activity—whether light or moderate—are closely linked to changes in their mood throughout the day.
The study analyzed data from more than 8,000 participants and 320,000 mood ratings across 67 datasets. Researchers found that people felt happier, more energetic, and more positive shortly after being more active than usual. The pattern also worked in reverse: when people felt better than usual, they were more likely to be physically active soon afterward.
Yue Liao, assistant professor of kinesiology and director of the Physical Activity and Wearable Sensors Lab at UT Arlington, was among over 50 contributors to the article published in Nature's Human Behavior. The findings are connected to Liao's previous research indicating that participants who engaged in light activity—such as walking or doing chores—instead of sitting felt better and more energized the next day.
"Physical activity can trigger immediate physiological and psychological responses. When you move, different parts of your body start to react and respond, even if you don't feel it right away. As this study suggests, physical activity can also lead to immediate improvements in mood," said Liao.
Liao also said that physical activity is not limited to structured workouts: "We captured everyday bodily movement through wearable sensors. This can include both moderate- and low-intensity movements such as going on walks, climbing stairs and doing housework." She added that increasing one's own usual level of activity brings mood-enhancing benefits: "You don't need a gym session to feel better. An increase above your own usual activity level will bring mood-enhancing benefits, especially by helping you feel more energetic."
