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1: Introduction to Exercise Psychology

  • Page ID
    109193
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    Learning Objectives

    Within this chapter, you will be introduced to the field of ExercisePsychologyand how it differs from Sport Psychology. This chapter attempts to

    • differentiate Exercise and Sport Psychology,
    • provide an overview of the themesofExercise Psychology,
    • introduce the various scientific approaches to studying Exercise Psychologyand their unique contributions, and
    • emphasize the importance of considering various perspectives in order to fully understand physical activity behavior.

    • 1.1: An Introduction to Exercise Psychology
      Exercise and Sport Psychology explores the psychological factors influencing physical activity, including motivations and individual differences, its impact on well-being, and applying psychology to enhance athletic performance. The field intertwines multiple disciplines and catalogs various forms of physical activity, such as household chores, leisure activities, transportation, and sports.
    • 1.2: Approaches to Studying Exercise Psychology
    • 1.3: Importance of Integration
    • 1.4: Learning Exercises
      Exercise Psychology differs from Sport Psychology primarily in its focus: Exercise Psychology centers on psychological aspects of physical activity for all individuals, whereas Sport Psychology targets athletes and performance. The three main themes in Exercise Psychology are motivation for physical activity, mental health benefits, and adherence to exercise.
    • 1.5: Further Reading and References
      The page provides a list of references related to sport, exercise psychology, physical activity, and associated health outcomes. The sources cover various topics, including psychobiology of physical activity, research methods in exercise psychology, social-cognitive determinants of physical activity, effects of fitness on cognitive function, and relationships between social factors and health.


    This page titled 1: Introduction to Exercise Psychology is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Allyson G. Box (Society for Transparency, Openness, and Replication in Kinesiology) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.