ABSTRACT
Understanding the relationship between psychology and physical activity has long been of interest, but it is only in the last few decades that a systematic and coherent body of research has emerged. This field, sometimes described as exercise psychology, incorporates a range of theories, methods, and goals, and the aim of this chapter is to offer an integrated overview of recent themes and findings. A broad conceptual distinction between two common approaches to research considering psychology and physical activity is offered. The first approach treats physical activity as an independent variable and looks to understand the effects that participation in physical activity can have on a range of psychological measures including mental health, cognitive functioning, and self-esteem. The second approach treats physical activity as a dependent variable and attempts to understand the psychological factors that influence participation in physical activity. This chapter considers recent developments from both of these approaches, discusses their strengths and limitations, and briefly looks toward the future of the field.
