Lecture 14-Understanding the psychology of becoming active Flashcards
Why is psychology important?
The importance of being physically active is well known
How many NZ’ers agree that being active is very important for physcial health
91%
How many NZ’ers agree that being active is very important for mental and emotional wellbeing
88%
BUT…….
47% of NZ’ers are not sufficiently active for health
How many NZ’ers drop out within 6 months
50%
Why is there a disconnect
The education strategies are not very good
Why is psychology important?
Education does not lead to behaviour change
- Either -people are not convinced its important enough or its more complicated than simply telling people why they should be active and expecting them to do it
Psychology explains
Why people become and remain active and how to support them to become physically active
Characteristics asscociated with being inactive
Female
Low confidence
Lower level of education
In poor health
etc
Identifies who we need to target for exercise interventions and life circumstances that complicate decisions
Social ecological framework
Outside layer=Policy
Next layer=Physical environments
Next layer=Social
Inside layer=Individual (psychology)
Psychology is important since ulitameltly its the
individuals decision to be active but decisions are not made in a vacuum not automatically influenced by external factors
Motives and barriers
Motives: the way the look
Barriers: dont have time
Case study 1: You work in the green prescription programme and meet with John who has been referred to you by his GP to talk about getting more active to improve his health
John has some form of physical problem
* He has gone to the GP because he got told that he had to
* he might not be as interested in the conversation
* Now that it is medical problem he might feel that he has to go now
* He might be a bit nervous as an older guy not knowing what to do
he is going to this meeting not really sure that he is going to change his exercise
Case study 2: You work in an exercise prescription clinic and meet with Maria which has contacted you because she wants to improve her fitness/strength
- she took herself their so that means that her internal motivation has driven her to want to have this conversation and want change
- she is unsure of where to start
- she wants to do this but doesnt know where to go
- she might be exited to see where it will take her
- She might be feeling a little scared because she might not feel comfortable in the exercise
