Exercise and health psychology

Question 1

Define health

Answer 1

A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (WHO, 2024)

Question 2

Describe the biomedical model

Answer 2

Traditional model of health whereby illness results from disease outside the body, internal involuntary physical changes as a result of chemical imbalance (bacteria, virus) so health would be absence of disease

Health and illness are viewed as quantitatively different - no continuum of two so are either healthy or ill

Mind and body thought to function independently of one another

Mind is incapable of influencing body - abstract concept that deals with thoughts and feelings but does not bring about changes within the body

Question 3

What would treatment be under the biomedical model?

Answer 3

Treatment is medical intervention - vaccination, surgery, radiotherapy etc. to change the physical state of the body, administered by a medical professional

Question 4

What is the role of psychology in the biomedical model?

Answer 4

Role of psychology as some illnesses have psychological consequences - but these are not causes of illness

Question 5

Define health psychology

Answer 5

‘The aggregate of the specific educational, scientific and professional contribution of the discipline of psychology to the promotion and maintenance of health, the promotion and treatment of illness, and related dysfunction’ (Matarazzo, 1980)

Question 6

How does health psychology view humans and illness in comparison to the biomedical model?

Answer 6

Humans seen as complex and illness is caused by a combination of factors (biological, social, psychological)

Individuals are not seen as a passive victim, but rather play a role in their B and the cause of illness

The whole person should be treated, not just the physical change (B change, beliefs and medical recommendation)

More rounded and holistic approach in comparison to biomedical model

Question 7

Describe the biopsychosocial model

Answer 7

By Engel (1997)

Attempts to integrate psych and environmental aspects of health into traditional biomedical model

Views health and illness as product of genes, immune response, social conditions, B, emotions, coping-skills etc.

Health is a deep inter-relation of three large factors (biological, psychological and social-environmental) (socio economic status predicts health, psych conducts self-efficacy etc can predict health) - holistic view, individual has some autonomy over health

Question 8

What is a limitation of the biopsychosocial model?

Answer 8

Hard to know how/ quantify how much each factor contributes and how factors interact with each other

Question 9

What is exercise psychology?

Answer 9

The application of psychological principles to the promotion of physical activity and exercise

Question 10

Describe the two way relationship of exercise psychology

Answer 10

Portenga et al (2012)

Psych used to help someone exercise - interventions to reduce sedentary B, increase motivation

Also effect of exercise on mental health - psych benefit of being PA

Question 11

Briefly describe the origin of exercise psychology

Answer 11

1980s - “Sport Psychology” to “Sport and Exercise Psychology”

Due to growth in behavioural medicine and health psychology - looking at effects of B on health and how mental state contributes to this

Increase research on physical activity for health - benefits of being PA

Rising concern in obesity at a population level and health implications associated with this

Increased understanding of psychological and physical benefits of physical activity (and exercise)

Used to help understand why exercise is good and how to get people engaged

Question 12

What are the three main strands of exercise psychology research?

Answer 12

1. Correlation research - non-experimental, measure interaction between two variables with little or no effort to control EV (e.g. correlation between how fast someone walks to work and their levels of somatic anxiety) - not looking at cause, just relationship
2. Test intervention - e.g. PA promotion scheme - look to integrate exercise programmes and how these effect outcomes of illness
3. Psych outcomes - measuring results of diff interventions in diff patient populations

Question 13

Define PA

Answer 13

Any bodily movement produced by SKM that requires EE - umbrella term

Question 14

Define exercise

Answer 14

Planned, structured, repetitive and purposeful in the sense that the improvement or maintenance of one or more components of physical fitness is the objective

Question 15

Why is PA important?

Answer 15

PA people have lower health risks, be that cognitively or physiologically

40% reduced cognitive decline, 30% reduced all cause mortality, 25% reduced CHD and stroke (PA guidelines advisory committee report, 2018)

Question 16

What are the recommended PA guidelines?

Answer 16

150 min moderate PA/ week or 75 min vigorous PA/ week

At least 2 bouts of strength training per week

Question 17

What are the stats for PA in England?

Answer 17

67.3% of adults physically active (Active Lives Adult Survey, Sport England)

1 in 3 (34%) men are not active enough for good health

Almost 1 in 2 (42%) women are not active enough for good health

Question 18

Why is exercise psychology important?

Answer 18

Many people not meeting PA guidelines

Exercise/PA behaviour can be changed - everyone has an opportunity to change these B

Psych look to implement changes to improve health and quality of life