ABSTRACT
Repetti et al. (2002) have suggested that while ‘good health begins early in life … poor health also begins early in life’ (p. 330). In support of this, the attachment literature suggests that individuals’ fundamental familial relationships help to construct a sense of emotional security and psychological well-being that will ultimately enable them to acquire behaviours that help to effectively self-regulate mental and physical health as independence from caregivers is attained. This chapter discusses the interface between attachment theory, mental and physical health, and exercise. It begins by exploring the general links between attachment and mental and physical health and then discusses potential links with exercise.
