- Title
- A Social identity approach to understanding and promoting physical activity
- Creator
- Stevens, Mark; Rees, Tim; Coffee, Pete; Steffens, Niklas; Haslam, S. Alexander; Polman, Remco
- Date
- 2017
- Type
- Text; Journal article
- Identifier
- http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/197467
- Identifier
- vital:18892
- Identifier
-
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0720-4
- Identifier
- ISSN:0112-1642
- Abstract
- Against the backdrop of a global physical inactivity crisis, attempts to both understand and positively influence physical activity behaviours are characterized by a focus on individual-level factors (e.g. cognitions, attitudes, motivation). We outline a new perspective, drawn from an emerging body of work exploring the applicability of social identity and self-categorization theories to domains of sport and health, from which to understand and address this pervasive problem. This social identity approach suggests that the groups to which people belong can be, and often are, incorporated into their sense of self and, through this, are powerful determinants of physical activity-related behaviour. We start by reviewing the current state of physical activity research and highlighting the potential for the social identity approach to help understand how social factors influence these behaviours. Next, we outline the theoretical underpinnings of the social identity approach and provide three key examples that speak to the analytical and practical value of the social identity approach in physical activity settings. Specifically, we argue that social identity (1) can be harnessed to promote engagement in physical activity, (2) underpins exercise group behaviour, and (3) underpins effective leadership in exercise settings. We conclude by identifying prospects for a range of theory-informed research developments.
- Publisher
- Springer International Publishing
- Relation
- Sports Medicine Vol. 47, no. 10 (2017), p. 1911-1918
- Rights
- All metadata describing materials held in, or linked to, the repository is freely available under a CC0 licence
- Rights
- Copyright Springer Link
- Rights
- Open Access
- Subject
- Behavior; Burnout; Cardiovascular disease; Clinical medicine; Cognition; Endorsements; Exercise; General & internal medicine; Health aspects; Health promotion; Leadership; Leading; Leading Article; medical and health sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Motivation; Occupational health; Perspective (graphical); Physical activity; Physical fitness; Physical training; Planning; Psychology; Psychology of self; Researchers; Social identity; Social identity approach; Social identity theory; Social psychology; Social status; sport sciences; Sports Medicine; Theory; Trends; Value (ethics); 4207 Sports science and exercise; 4201 Allied health and rehabilitation science
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