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Sport
Psychology(psy407)
VU
Lesson
40
EXERCISE
PSYCHOLOGY
Theoretical
Explanations for the Relationship
between Exercise and Improved
Mental Health
Many
hypotheses have been
proposed to explain why exercise is
associated with improved
mental health.
We
will be discussing six of
them. The first three
explanations are considered to be
psychological in nature,
while
the remaining three are physiological in
nature.
Psychological
Explanations
Cognitive
Behavioral Hypothesis
The
basic premise of the cognitive behavioral
hypothesis is that exercise
encourages and generates
positive
thoughts
and feelings that serve to
counteract negative mood
states such as depression, anxiety,
and
confusion.
When
individuals master task s they
perceive to be difficult, they experience
an increase in self-efficacy.
Exercise
is perceived by nonexercisers as a
difficult task. When to
nonexercisers succeeds in becoming
a
regular
exerciser, she experiences a feeling of
accomplishment and self-efficacy. An
increase in self-efficacy
is
helpful in breaking the downward spiral of
negative affect associated with
depression, anxiety, and
other
negative
mood states.
Social
Interaction Hypothesis
The
basic premise of the social
interaction hypothesis is that
social interaction associated
with exercising
with
friends and colleagues is pleasurable
and has the net effect of improving
mental health.
Distraction
Hypothesis
The
basic premise of the distraction
hypothesis is that exercise
affords an opportunity for
individuals to be
distracted
from their worries and
frustrations. It may be that distraction provides a
viable explanation for
short-term
reduction in depression and anxiety,
but not for long-term
reduction.
Physiological
Explanations
Cardiovascular
Fitness Hypothesis
The
basic premise of the cardiovascular
fitness hypothesis is that
improved mood state is
associated with
improved
cardiovascular fitness.
Amine
Hypothesis
The
basic premise of the amine
hypothesis is that increased
secretion of chemicals that
serve as
neurotransmitters
is related to improved mental health.
Theoretically, exercise stimulates the
production of
neurotransmitters
that in turn have a positive
effect upon psychological mood.
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Psychology(psy407)
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Endorphin
Hypothesis
The
endorphin hypothesis postulates
that exercise is associated
with brain production of
chemicals that
have
a "morphine-like" effect on the exerciser (pain
reduction and general euphoria). This
effect has been
referred
to, in popular literature, as the ''runner's
high." The general euphoria produced by
the endorphins
serves
to reduce the levels of depression,
anxiety, confusion, and other negative
mood states.
Exercise
Adherence and Determinants
Another
important aspect of exercise
psychology is to determine what motivates
individuals to start
exercising,
what motivates them to adhere to an
exercise program, and what
motivates them to try
again
after
failing the first (or
second) time.
Transition
from Sedentary State to
Exercise Adoption
Exercise
determinants motivate individuals to
make the transition from
sedentary lifestyle to regular
exercise.
Individuals likely to adopt a vigorous
exercise lifestyle exhibit the following
characteristics:
1.
Confidence
they can succeed at a vigorous exercise
program (exercise self-efficacy)
2.
Knowledge
about what constitutes a healthy lifestyle.
3.
Knowledge
about the importance and value of regular
exercise.
4.
The
perception that they enjoy a high level
of self-control.
5.
Good
attitudes about the value and importance of
regular exercise.
6.
Initial
condition of not being overweight or
obese.
It
has often been hypothesized
that parental involvement in vigorous
physical activity would be a
strong
determinant
of the exercise behavior of their
children. What does predict vigorous
physical activity in
children
is parental beliefs about the
value and importance of vigorous physical
activity.
Transition
from Adoption to Maintenance or Dropout
Status
Determinants
of exercise adherence
are:
1.
Available
time.
2.
Behavioral
coping skills
3.
Equipment
and facility
accessibility
4.
Exercise
self-efficacy
5.
Group
cohesion
6.
High
risk of heart disease
7.
Intrinsic
motivation
8.
Personal
perception of good health
9.
Social
support
Determinants
of exercise nonadherence
are:
1.
Being
a blue-collar worker
2.
Being
overweight or obese
3.
Mood
state disturbance relative to
exercise
4.
Physical
discomfort during
exercise
5.
Being
a smoker
6.
Social
physique anxiety
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VU
Transition
from Dropout Status to
Exercise Resumption
The
transition from being an exercise
dropout to resuming a vigorous exercise
program is an important part
of
the exercise psychology literature but
statistics are not available
on the percentage of people who
drop
out
off an exercise program and
then get started
again.
References
Cox,
H. Richard. (2002). Sport Psychology:
Concepts and Applications.
(Fifth Edition). New
York:
McGraw-Hill
Companies
Lavallec.
D., Kremer, J., Moran,
A., & Williams. M. (2004)
Sports Psychology: Contemporary Themes.
New
York:
Palgrave Macmillan
Publishers
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Copyright Virtual University of
Pakistan
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