The Psychology of Exercise: Integrating Theory and Practice

Now in its fifth edition, The Psychology of Exercise: Integrating Theory and Practice is the ideal resource for undergraduate courses devoted to the study of exercise behavior. Following the success of previous editions, this book successfully integrates theoretical principles and the latest research with intervention strategies that students can apply in real-world settings. Students will find multiple forms of presentation throughout including graphics and models, questionnaires and other instruments, focus boxes highlighting research on the impact of physical activity on specific populations, and review questions and activities to enhance learning.

This edition includes a substantial revision of the theory and intervention chapters, with a focus on the most popular theories currently thriving in the field, a discussion of environmental and policy influences on behavior, and an expanded presentation of intervention components, design, and evaluation. Separate chapters are also dedicated to popular topics such as personality, self-perceptions, stress, anxiety, depression, emotional well-being, cognitive function, and health-related quality of life. For those seeking to learn more about exercise behavior, The Psychology of Exercise: Integrating Theory and Practice is a must-have resource.

Part I: UNDERSTANDING AND MODIFYING EXERCISE BEHAVIOR

2. Introduction to Exercise Psychology
4. Physical Activity Epidemiology
6. Understanding Exercise Behavior I: Stimulus–Response Theory and Social Cognitive Approaches
8. Understanding Exercise Behavior II: Interpersonal, Physical Environment, and Policy Influences
10. Developing Exercise Interventions: Part 1
12. Developing Exercise Interventions: Part 2

13. Part II: PSYCHOSOCIAL INFLUENCES AND CONSEQUENCES OF EXERCISE

14. Personality and Exercise
16. Self-Perceptions and Exercise
18. Stress, Stress Reactivity, and Exercise
20. Anxiety and Exercise
22. Depression and Exercise
24. Emotional Well-Being and Exercise
26. Cognitive Function and Exercise
28. Health-Related Quality of Life and Exercise

Author Index

Subject Index

Curt L. Lox is a professor and the Dean of the Brooks College of Health at the University of North Florida, USA. He has written scholarly articles that have been published in major exercise, sport, and rehabilitation psychology, and behavioral medicine journals.

Kathleen A. Martin Ginis, Ph.D., is a professor and Distinguished University Scholar in the Department of Medicine and in the School of Health and Exercise Sciences at the University of British Columbia, Canada and holds the Reichwald Family Chair in Chronic Disease Prevention. An International Fellow of the National Academy of Kinesiology, she has published scientific articles in leading exercise, health, and rehabilitation psychology, behavioral medicine and medical journals and her work has been featured in publications such as "O" The Oprah Magazine, Men’s Health & Fitness, and Shape, among others.

Heather L. Gainforth, Ph.D., is an assistant professor at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Gainforth received her Ph.D. from Queen’s University and completed postdoctoral training at the University College London. She has published scientific articles in leading journals in the areas of exercise and health psychology, implementation science, and behavioral medicine.

Steven J. Petruzzello, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA. He is a fellow in the National Academy of Kinesiology (#578) and the American College of Sports Medicine. He has written scholarly articles that have appeared in major sports medicine, sport and exercise psychology, psychophysiology journals along with various book chapters.