Up and running: Interventions in exercise psychology

Abstract

Exercise psychology is a relatively new field which seeks to understand the psychological and social factors which influence physical activity participation and physical fitness, with a view to preventing attrition and promoting greater exercise adherence. Over 21 per cent of Irish adults currently take no exercise at all (Departments of Health and Education, 1996) and it is estimated that 50 per cent of people who are actually motivated to begin an exercise programme drop out within the first six months (Dishman, 1988). Body image represents a significant area for research in exercise psychology as the perceptions and feelings we have about our bodies often influence the selection of physical activities or they can cause us to avoid particular activities or exercise situations. Two exercise intervention studies which focus on body image outcomes are described in this article. The first study involved six obese children who were assigned personal trainers for an eight week programme of physical activity a...