Psychology of Sport and Exercise · Mar 17, 2026

Feel lonely? Get active: Exploring the daily relationship between accelerometer-measured physical activity and loneliness

By Zhang S, Song Y, Steptoe A et al.

Previous research has demonstrated a link between physical activity and loneliness, though the direction of this relationship remains unclear. This study explored daily fluctuations in the temporal relationship between physical activity and loneliness in young adults. A total of 150 participants (83 women; mean age = 21.1 ± 2.19 years) completed daily surveys across 21 consecutive days. Physical activity was measured using ActiGraph accelerometers. Daily loneliness was assessed each evening using the Chinese version of three-item UCLA Loneliness Scale and a single-item measure. Cross-lagged multilevel linear models examined same-day and lagged associations between physical activity and loneliness at within- and between-person levels. On days with higher moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) or total energy expenditure (TEE), participants reported lower loneliness; no between-person effects emerged. These results were consistent across both loneliness measures. Gender moderated the MVPA-loneliness association, with stronger effects observed among men than women. Loneliness did not predict next-day physical activity. Engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity may help reduce feelings of loneliness on a daily basis, particularly among men. Future research should explore the mechanisms underlying this relationship and assess causal effects to inform tailored interventions for loneliness reduction.

doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2026.103122PubMed 41856385Populations