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 $\overline{X}=21.6\pm 6.7$   (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%  $\overline{X}=60.65\pm 8.22$  (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  ${\overline{X}}_1=20.2\pm 2.03$  ♀ 38  ${\overline{X}}_2=19.5\pm 1.15$	(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%  $\overline{X}=48.5\pm 2.8$  ♀ 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  $\overline{X}=40.4\pm 9.74$  (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; $\overline{X}$: 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.