ECOLOGICAL APPROACH TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROMOTION

Public health guidelines for (young) adults prescribe that regular bouts of exercise (i.e. three days per week for a minimum of 20 min per bout (Haskell et al., 2007) are needed in order to accrue well-documented health benefits, including the prevention of weight gain (Kromhout, Bloemberg, Seidell, Nissinen, & Menotti, 2001) and reduced risk for cardiovascular diseases (Aadahl et al., 2009). However, large segments of the population are currently insufficiently active to meet these guidelines and fail to achieve these health benefits.

Physical exercise also has an impact on cognitive functioning in children and a beneficial impact on different aspects of brain functioning during development. (Dave and Mathilde). Among older adults, a stronger physically-active identity is associated with higher self-regulatory efficacy and proximal intentions/goals, more frequent physical activity and greater well-being (satisfaction with life).

            Physical inactivity is currently acknowledged as a serious public health burden throughout the industrialized world (US; Villeneuve and World). Traditional physical activity promotion interventions that employ individual approaches have demonstrated limited success in promoting long-term maintenance ( Dishman and Marcus). Correlational research testing theories and models focusing on these same individual dispositions explain, at best, 20–40% of the variance in physical activity. As a result, recent calls have been made for consideration of broader, multilevel, ecological approaches to physical activity promotion.

Graham J. Mackay and James T. Neill (2009) conducted a quasi-experimental study on the effect of “green exercise” on state anxiety and the role of exercise duration, intensity, and greenness. Results indicated a significant reduction in participants' state anxiety following green exercise experiences. Previous studies have generally supported the notion that environments with more natural features tend to be preferred and that they tend to be associated with more positive physical and mental health outcomes. Numerous mechanisms have been posited for changes in psychological states during and following physical exercise. For example, physiological changes (such as increases in body temperature), beta endorphins, and parasympathetic activity, and reductions in muscle tension and excitability of the central nervous system may contribute to the anxiety-reducing effects of exercise.

Some studies have found that anxiety is reduced by both exercise and by quiet rest. Pretty et al. (2007)  found that green exercise led to significant improvements in self-esteem and decreases in mood disturbance. Given the economic and psychological cost of rising lifestyle-related illnesses, green exercise is emerging as a potentially important contributor to public and environmental health.

  References:

Dave E. & Mathilde St-L. D. (2010). The effect of acute physical exercise on cognitive function during development. Psychology of Sport and Exercise,
Volume 11(2), 122-126 .

Graham J.M. & James T. N. (2010 ). The effect of “green exercise” on state anxiety and the role of exercise duration, intensity, and greenness: A quasi-experimental study. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 11(3), 238-245.

John C.S. & Rebecca E.L. (2003). Toward a comprehensive model of physical activity.

Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 4(1), 7-24

 Philip M. W., Wendy M. R., Paul J. C., Craig H., James H. &  Shawn N. F.(2004). The relationship between commitment and exercise behavior. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 5 (4), 405-421.

Shaelyn M. S., Lawrence R. B., Kevin S. & Karen G., (2010). Older adults' physically-active identity: Relationships between social cognitions, physical activity and satisfaction with life. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 11(2), 114-121