Small increases in physical activity can enhance physical and psychological wellbeing. This article reviews some of the skills and strategies that have been shown in previous research to be effective in assisting individuals to adopt a more active lifestyle, namely educational interventions, exploring barriers to physical activity, promoting self-efficacy for exercise, maximising rewards, encouraging goal setting, enhancing resistance to relapse, building social support and providing reminders or cues to action. These skills, it is argued, are relevant to occupational therapy with a wide range of clients, in both physical health and mental health settings.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BanduraA (1986) Social foundations of thought and action: A cognitive social theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
2.
BiddleSNiggC (2000) Theories of exercise behaviour. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 31(2), 290–304.
3.
BockBAlbrechtATraficanteRClarkMPintoBTilkemeierPMarcusB (1997) Predictors of exercise adherence following participation in a cardiac rehabilitation programme. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 4(1), 60–75.
4.
BoothMMacaskillPOwenNOldenbergB (1993) Population prevalence and correlates of stages of change in physical activity. Health Education Quarterly, 20(3), 431–40.
5.
BrennanNCaplanG (1999) Attitudes to osteoporosis and hormone replacement therapy among elderly women. Osteoporosis International, 9(2), 139–43.
6.
CalfasKLongBSallisJWootenWPrattMPatrickK (1996) A controlled trial of physician counselling to promote the adoption of physical activity. Preventive Medicine, 25(3), 225–33.
7.
CardinalBCardinalM (1997) Changes in exercise behavior and exercise identity associated with a 14-week aerobic exercise class. Journal of Sport Behavior, 20(4), 377–86.
8.
CarronAHausenblasHMackD (1996) Social influence and exercise: A meta-analysis. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 18(1), 1–16.
9.
ClarkD (1999) Identifying psychological, physiological and environmental barriers and facilitators to exercise among older low income adults. Journal of Clinical Geropsychology, 5(1), 51–62.
10.
ConnV (1998) Older adults and exercise: Path analysis of self-efficacy related constructs. Nursing Research, 47(3), 180–89.
11.
CourneyaKFriedenreichCArthurKBobickT (1999) Physical exercise and quality of life in postsurgical colorectal cancer patients. Psychology, Health and Medicine, 4(2), 181–87.
12.
CrawfordMMcGuireHMoncrieffJMartinsenE (2000) Exercise therapy for depression and other neurotic disorders. The Cochrane Library, Issue 4. Oxford: Update Software.
13.
DeBuskRStenestrandUSheehanMHaskellW (1990) Training effects of long versus short bouts of exercise in healthy subjects. American Journal of Cardiology, 65, 1010–13.
14.
DiLorenzoTBargmanEStucky-RoppRBrassingtonGFrenschPLaFontaineT (1999) Long-term effects of aerobic exercise on psychological outcomes. Preventive Medicine, 28(1), 75–85.
15.
DishmanR (1994) Advances in exercise adherence. Champaign, Il: Human Kinetics Publishers.
16.
DrummondAERWalkerMF (1995) A randomised controlled trial of leisure rehabilitation after stroke. Clinical Rehabilitation, 9(4), 283–90.
17.
EatonCReynesJAssafAFeldmanH (1993) Predicting physical activity change in men and women in two New England communities. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 9(4), 209–19.
18.
EstabrooksPCourneyaK (1997) Relationships among self-schema, intention, and exercise behaviour. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 19(2), 156–68.
19.
FrederickCShawS (1995) Body image as a leisure constraint: Examining the experience of aerobic exercise classes for young women. Leisure Sciences, 17, 57–73.
20.
FuchsRHeathGWheelerF (1992) Perceived morbidity as a determinant of health behaviour. Health Education Research, 7(3), 327–34.
21.
GechtMConnellKSinacoreJProchaskaT (1996) A survey of exercise beliefs and exercise habits among people with arthritis. Arthritis Care and Research, 9(2), 82–88.
22.
GodinGShephardR (1990) An evaluation of the potential role of the physician in influencing community exercise behaviour. American Journal of Health Promotion, 4(4), 255–59.
23.
GorelyTGordonS (1995) An examination of the transtheoretical model and exercise behaviour in older adults. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 17(3), 312–24.
24.
GreggECauleyJSeeleyDEnsrudKBauerD (1998) Physical activity and osteoporotic fracture risk in older women. Annals of Internal Medicine, 129(2), 81–88. (Full text available through Medline.)
25.
HassmenPKoivulaNUutelaA (2000) Physical exercise and psychological wellbeing: A population study in Finland. Preventive Medicine, 30(1), 17–25.
26.
HendersonKBialeschkiM (1991) A sense of entitlement to leisure as constraint and empowerment for women. Leisure Sciences, 12, 51–65.
27.
HuntPHillsdonM (1996) Changing eating and exercise behaviour. Oxford: Blackwell Science.
28.
IngledewDMarklandDMedleyA (1998) Exercise motives and stages of change. Journal of Health Psychology, 3(4), 477–89.
29.
IvarssonTSpetzAHammarM (1998) Physical exercise and vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women. Maturitas, 29(2), 139–46.
30.
JaffeeLLutterJRexJHawkesCBucaccioP (1999) Incentives and barriers to physical activity for working women. American Journal of Health Promotion, 13(4), 215–18.
31.
JensenGLorishC (1994) Promoting patient cooperation with exercise programmes: Linking research, theory and practice. Arthritis Care and Research, 7(4), 181–89.
32.
JoliffeJReesKTaylorRThompsonDOldridgeNEbrahimS (2000) Exercise-based rehabilitation for coronary heart disease. The Cochrane Library, Issue 4. Oxford: Update Software.
33.
KamwendoKAskenbomMWahlgrenC (1999) Physical activity in the life of the patient with rheumatoid arthritis. Physiotherapy Research International, 4(4), 278–92.
34.
KeenSDowellAHurstKMoffetJToveyPWilliamsR (1999) Individuals with low back pain: How do they view physical activity?Family Practice, 16(1), 39–45.
35.
KingATaylorCHaskellWDeBuskR (1989) Influence of regular aerobic exercise on psychological health. Health Psychology, 8, 305–324.
36.
KinneSPatrickDMaherE (1999) Correlates of exercise maintenance among people with mobility impairments. Disability and Rehabilitation, 21(1), 15–22.
37.
KreuterMStrecherV (1996) Do tailored behaviour change messages enhance the effectiveness of health risk appraisal? Results from a randomised trial. Health Education Research, 11(1), 97–105.
38.
LaitakariJVuoriIOjaP (1996) Is long-term maintenance of health-related physical activity possible? An analysis of concepts and evidence. Health Education Research, 11(4), 463–77.
39.
LeeC (1993) Attitudes, knowledge and stages of change: A survey of exercise patterns in older Australian women. Health Psychology, 12(6), 476–80.
40.
LombardDLombardTWinettR (1995) Walking to meet health guidelines: The effect of prompting frequency and prompt structure. Health Psychology, 14(2), 164–70.
41.
MarcusBRakowskiWRossiJ (1992) Assessing motivational readiness and decision-making for exercise. Health Psychology, 11(4), 257–61.
42.
McEnteeDHalginR (1996) Therapists' atttitudes about addressing the role of exercise in psychotherapy. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 52(1), 48–60.
43.
MenecVChipperfieldJ (1997) Remaining active in later life: The role of locus of control in seniors' leisure activity participation, health and life satisfaction. Journal of Aging and Health, 9(1), 105–25.
44.
MessentPCookeCLongJ (1999) Primary and secondary barriers to physically active healthy lifestyles for adults with learning disabilities. Disability and Rehabilitation, 21(9), 409–19.
45.
MooreCBracegirdleH (1994) The effects of a short-term, low intensity exercise programme on the psychological wellbeing of community-dwelling elderly women. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 57(6), 213–16.
46.
NeubergerGKasalSSmithKHassaneinRDeVineyS (1994) Determinants of exercise and aerobic fitness in outpatients with arthritis. Nursing Research, 43(1), 11–17.
47.
NiesMVollmanMCookT (1998) Facilitators, barriers and strategies for exercise in European American women in the community. Public Health Nursing, 15(4), 263–72.
48.
PalmerL (1995) Effects of a walking programme on attributional style, depression, and self-esteem in women. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 81(3), 891–98.
49.
PateRPrattMBlairSHaskellWMaceraCBouchardCBuchnerDEttingerWHeathGKingA (1995) Physical activity and public health: A recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine. Journal of the American Medical Association, 273(5), 402–407. (Full text available through Medline.)
50.
PetrieKWeinmanJ (1997) Illness representations and myocardial infarction. In: PetrieKWeinmanJ, eds. Perceptions of health and illness. Amsteldijk, Netherlands: Harwood Academic Publishers, 441–62.
51.
PoundPGompertzPEbrahimS (1999) Social and practical strategies described by people living at home with stroke. Health and Social Care in the Community, 7(2), 120–28.
52.
ProvinceMHadleyEHornbrookMLipsitzLMillerJMulrowCOryFSattinRTinettiMWolfS (1995) The effects of exercise on falls in elderly patients. A pre-planned meta-analysis of the FICSIT trials. Journal of the American Medical Association, 273, 1341–47. (Full text available through Medline.)
53.
RimmerJ (1999) Health promotion for people with disabilities: The emerging paradigm shift from disability prevention to prevention of secondary conditions. Physical Therapy, 79(5), 495–502.
54.
RosenbergI (1998) Let's get physical. Annals of Internal Medicine, 129(2), 133–34. (Full text available through Medline.)
55.
SallisJHovellMHofstetterCFaucherPBlanchardJCaspersenJPowellKChristensonG (1989) A multivariate study of determinants of vigorous exercise in a community sample. Preventive Medicine, 18, 20–34.
56.
ShawSHendersonK (2000) Physical activity, leisure and women's health. In: SherrLSt LawrenceJ, eds. Women, Health and the Mind. Chichester: John Wiley, 339–54.
57.
SherrillC (1997) Disability, identity, and involvement in sport and exercise. In: FoxK, ed. The physical self: From motivation to wellbeing. Champaign, Il: Human Kinetics, 257–86.
58.
SimkinLGrossA (1994) Assessment of coping with high-risk situations for exercise relapse among healthy women. Health Psychology, 13(3), 274–77.
59.
SonstroemR (1997) Physical activity and self-esteem. In: MorganW, ed. Physical activity and mental health. Washington, DC: Taylor and Francis, 127–43.
60.
StenstromCBoestadCCarlssonMEdstromMReuterhallA (1997) Why exercise? A preliminary investigation of an exercise motivation index among individuals with rheumatic conditions and healthy individuals. Physiotherapy Research International, 2(1), 7–16.
61.
SteptoeAWardleJFullerRHolteAJustoJSandermanRWichstromL (1997) Leisure-time physical exercise: Prevalence, attitudinal correlates and behavioural correlates among young Europeans from 21 countries. Preventive Medicine, 26(6), 845–54.
62.
SumsionT (1999) Client-centred practice in occupational therapy: A guide to implementation. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
63.
TerryDO'LearyJ (1995) The theory of planned behaviour: The effects of perceived behavioural control and self-efficacy. British Journal of Social Psychology, 34(2), 199–220.
64.
Van ElderenTMaesSVan den BroekY (1994) Effects of a health education programme with telephone follow-up during cardiac rehabilitation. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 33(3), 367–78.
65.
VerhoefMLoveERoseM (1992) Women's social roles and their exercise participation. Women and Health, 19(4), 15–29.
