Awareness of the importance of exercise and physical activity to optimal physical and mental health has never been greater. It is widely acknowledged that physical inactivity is a leading cause of death, yet statistics show less than 50% of Americans participate in regular physical activity. This information highlights the public health challenge of increasing participation in physical activity to enhance physical health and to buoy the psychological benefits associated with physical activity. The Oxford Handbook of Exercise and Psychology is an authoritative and comprehensive presentation of the breadth and depth of empirical contributions utilizing state-of-the-science theories and approaches in exercise psychology. Chapters are authored by leading investigators across the globe who have made significant scientific contributions addressing the behavioral aspects of physical activity. Sections of the book address the effects of physical activity on mental health; knowledge gathered utilizing psychobiological perspectives; behavioral factors that impact exercise motivation; scientific contributions addressing the physical activity benefits with special populations, including individuals with physical disabilities, older adults and cancer patients; and promising areas for additional investigation. Each chapter presents a summary of scientific advancements in the topic area as a foundation for future investigation. Fueled by a broad range of disciplines and interdisciplinary approaches, the field of exercise psychology is growing, and this comprehensive handbook will be the perfect resource for students, researchers, and physicians interested in exercise motivation and the mental health benefits of physical activity.

This title describes current research findings in the study of human performance Experts from all fields of performance are brought together, covering domains including sports, the performing arts, business, executive coaching, the military, and other applicable, high-risk professions.

Historically, very few sport and exercise psychologists and professionals from related fields such as disability and rehabilitation have conducted thorough research on individuals with disabilities engaged in sport and exercise. The tide is turning, however, as growing media attention and familiarity with the Paralympics and the Wounded Warrior Project begins capturing the attention of researchers everywhere. By addressing this gap, Jeffrey J. Martin's compelling Handbook of Disability Sport and Exercise Psychology is one of the first comprehensive overviews of this important and emerging field of study. In this volume, Martin, an accomplished professor of sport and exercise psychology, shines a light on a variety of topics ranging from philosophy, athletic identity, participation motivation, quality of life, social and environmental barriers, body image, and intellectual impairments among many other issues. Based on the author's own experience and insight, a majority of these topic discussions in this volume are accompanied by thoughtful directions for future research and exploration. Designed to spark conversation and initiate new avenues of research, the Handbook of Disability Sport and Exercise Psychology will allow for readers to look outside the traditional literature focusing largely on able-bodied individuals and, instead, develop a much greater perspective on sport and exercise psychology today.

This Handbook is an authoritative and comprehensive presentation of the breadth and depth of empirical contributions utilizing state-of-the-science theories and approaches in exercise psychology. The information presented in this text highlights the public health challenge of increasing participation in physical activity to enhance physical and mental health.

This updated edition of The Oxford Handbook of Psychology and Spirituality codifies the leading empirical evidence in the support and application of postmaterial psychological science. Lisa J. Miller has gathered together a group of ground-breaking scholars to showcase their work of many decades that has come further to fruition in the past ten years with the collective momentum of a Spiritual Renaissance in Psychological Science. With new and updated chapters from leading scholars in psychology, medicine, physics, and biology, the Handbook is an interdisciplinary reference for a rapidly emerging approach to contemporary science. Highlighting fresh ideas and supporting science, this overarching work provides both a foundation and a roadmap for what is truly a new ideological age.

Situations matter. They let people express their personalities and values; provoke motivations, emotions, and behaviors; and are the contexts in which people reason and act. The psychological assessment of situations is a new and rapidly developing area of research, particularly within the fields of personality and social psychology. This volume compiles state-of-the-art knowledge on psychological situations in chapters written by experts in their respective research areas. Bringing together historical reviews, theoretical pieces, methodological descriptions, and empirical applications, this volume is the definitive, go-to source for a psychology of situations.

Please note: This text was replaced with a seventh edition. This version is available only for courses using the sixth edition and will be discontinued at the end of the semester. As the leading text in sport and exercise psychology, Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology, Sixth Edition With Web Study Guide, provides a thorough introduction to key concepts in the field. This text offers both students and new practitioners a comprehensive view of sport and exercise psychology, drawing connections between research and practice and capturing the excitement of the world of sport and exercise. The internationally respected authors have incorporated feedback from teachers and students to create a text that builds on previous editions, making the material accessible to readers. In-depth learning aids have been refreshed, including chapter objectives and summaries, sidebars, key terms, key points, anecdotes, and discussion questions to help students think more critically about applying the material. Other updates to the sixth edition include the following: • More than 40 new video clips integrated into the web study guide to better demonstrate the core concepts addressed in the book • Additional emphasis on hot topics, including mindfulness, cultural diversity, ethics and professional issues, and transitions in sport • New ancillaries to help instructors teach their courses, including an image bank, chapter quizzes, and more than 122 instructor videos • Updated references, including more contemporary sources The text provides students with a unique learning experience—taking them on a journey through the origins and goals, key concepts, research development, and career options available in the field—in seven parts that may be studied in any sequence. Following an introduction to the field, the text then shifts focus to personal factors that affect performance and psychological development in sport, physical education, and exercise settings. Situational factors that influence behavior, group interaction and processes, and the use of psychological techniques to help people perform more effectively are covered, as well as the roles psychological factors play in health and exercise. The final section deals with topics of psychological development and well-being that are important to both society and sport and exercise psychology, including children’s psychological development through sport participation, aggression in sport, and moral development and good sporting behavior in sport and physical activity contexts. The updated web study guide serves as an important learning tool to support the educational journey. With more than 100 engaging activities, it works directly with the text in guiding students to complete the related activities for each chapter and apply knowledge gained from the text. The study guide activities require students to do the following: • Use actual sport and exercise psychology instruments to assess their skills. • Determine how to respond to real-life scenarios (with short answers or essays). • Review research studies and experiments. • Search the Internet for relevant information. • Apply and test their understanding of principles and concepts of sport and exercise psychology. Many of the study guide activities offer compelling audio and video clips that provide an interactive look at how sport psychology consultants communicate with athletes and coaches to improve athletic experiences. These clips feature esteemed experts from the field discussing course concepts that they have studied and refined during their professional careers. To further emphasize practical application, portfolio activities can be integrated through a full semester, turning course units into a unified whole that builds upon itself for greater understanding of the field. To aid instructors, instructor ancillaries have been updated and expanded. The instructor guide, test package, and presentation package are now supplemented with an image bank, gradable chapter quizzes, and instructor videos, all available at www.HumanKinetics.com/FoundationsOfSportAndExercisePsychology. The updated sixth edition of Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology continues to ensure that students are well equipped to enter the field of sport psychology and are prepared for the challenges they may encounter as well as the possibilities. This text offers an enhanced and varied learning package to assist students in understanding the sport psychology field.