2. Exercise and Mental Health

About this Lecture

Lecture

In this lecture, we think about the relationship between exercise and mental health, focusing in particular on: (i) the fact that, while there is strong anecdotal evidence for the positive effects of exercise on mental health and well-being, research has shown this effect to be relatively small; (ii) why this might be the case, considering some of the challenges researchers face in this area (iii) two biological explanations for the beneficial effects of exercise on our well-being being the amine hypothesis and the cross-stressor adaptation hypothesis; (iv) two research studies which show that short, low-intensity physical activity breaks decrease tiredness and have a positive effect on mood.

Course

In this course, Dr Dan Bishop (Brunel University London) explores a range of topics in sports and exercise psychology. In the first lecture, we think how anxiety impacts sport performance. In the second lecture, we think about the relationship between exercise and mental health. In the third lecture, we think about the reinvestment model and its impact on decision-making. Next, we think about learning by observing and imagining. In the fifth and final lecture, we think about different psychological models of the athlete personality.

Lecturer

Dr Dan Bishop is a Researcher and Senior Lecturer in Sport & Exercise Psychology at Brunel University London, a British Psychological Society (BPS) Chartered Psychologist registered to practise with the HCPC, an Associate Fellow of the BPS, and a Fellow of Advance HE.