ABSTRACT
The current edition of this book is the fourth – some 30 years after our first effort. This allows for a great deal of reflection on what is important in our field. This involves not only what is covered in the current volume, but also other important issues. This chapter will thus allow us to reflect on and provide future directions for a number of key issues. First, we discuss issues of psychology and behavioural medicine, and how we see psychology being part of the ‘bigger picture’. Second, we discuss contemporary issues concerning physical activity itself, including guidelines and different types of physical activity. Third, issues of behaviour change are considered, including complexity, environment, implementation and messaging. Fourth, a number of issues concerning research methods are discussed. This includes participant involvement in research, process evaluation and intervention effects. Finally, we discuss some research publishing issues. These major sections are followed by suggestions for future directions in research, policy and professional practice, including assessment of how such issues have progressed since the previous edition of this book.
