The Measurement of Affect, Mood, and Emotion

The role of affective constructs in human behavior in general, and health behavior in particular, is recapturing the attention of researchers. Affect, mood, and emotion are again considered powerful motives behind dietary choices, physical activity participation, cigarette smoking, alcohol over-consumption, and drug abuse. However, researchers entering the fray must confront a vast and confusing theoretical and technical literature. The enormity of this challenge is reflected in numerous problems plaguing recent studies, from selecting measures without offering a rationale, to interchanging terms that are routinely misconstrued. The Measurement of Affect, Mood, and Emotion cuts through the jargon, clarifies controversies, and proposes a sound three-tiered system for selecting measures that can rectify past mistakes and accelerate future progress. Panteleimon Ekkekakis offers an accessible and comprehensive guidebook of great value to academic researchers and postgraduate students in the fields of psychology, behavioral and preventive medicine, behavioral nutrition, exercise science, and public health. '... a powerful plea for a qualitative shift in the way research is conducted. It is a wise, thoughtful, and much needed guidebook for the transition from a prescientific to a scientific paradigm. If researchers read this book, they will be convinced, they will change their behavior, and their research will advance. I'm often asked to recommend a measure for emotion or mood, and I never have a simple answer. Now I do: read Ekkekakis.' James A. Russell, Boston College, from the Foreword 'What an impressive piece of writing! Authoritative, thought-provoking, essential reading for all those interested in physical activity and mental health. Dr Ekkekakis always provides insightful commentaries and critiques, and this is no exception. It will certainly move this research field forward.' Stuart Biddle, Loughborough University 'Much has been written about the acute effects of exercise on affect, mood and emotion, led by Paddy Ekkekakis over the past 10 years. This has changed the precision of measurement and understanding across the field. This book brings together this literature like no other book, and extends the relevance for anyone working in the field of health behaviour research.' Adrian Taylor, Chair in Exercise and Health Psychology, University of Exeter 'This definitive book on measurement of affect, mood, and emotion is necessary reading for all scientists seeking to employ self-report assessments of these central concepts.' Robert E. Thayer, California State University, Long Beach and author of The Biopsychology of Mood and Arousal, The Origin of Everyday Moods and Calm Energy 'In a clear and engaging style, this book brings the distinctions between and measurement of the constructs in this content area together in one place in a way that is quite original and very much needed.' Toni Yancey, Co-Director, UCLA Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity, UCLA Fielding School of Public HealthPrologue; 1. Documenting the breadth and depth of the problem; 2. Untangling the terminological Gordian knot; 3. Should affective states be considered as distinct entities or as positioned along dimensions?; 4. Are pleasant and unpleasant states independent or polar opposites?; 5. Selecting a measure: a proposed three-step process; 6. The old classics: measures of distinct states; 7. Dimensional measures; 8. Domain-specific measurement: challenges and solutions; 9. Problems of domain specificity: examples from exercise; Epilogue.