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Are Psychologists Willing and Able to Promote Physical Activity as Part of Psychological Treatment?

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International Journal of Behavioral Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Physical activity can provide psychological benefits, but there is little research on psychologists' promoting activity as part of psychological treatment.

Purpose

This study assessed psychologists' attitudes to and frequency of providing activity advice and counseling.

Method

A mail questionnaire sent to 620 psychologists provided 236 responses (38%). Items assessed frequency of providing activity advice and counseling, confidence to provide activity advice and counseling, perceived efficacy of activity for managing physical and psychological conditions, acceptability of activity advice and counseling, knowledge of national activity guidelines, exposure to training in activity promotion, and practice and sociodemographic characteristics. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analyses.

Results

Among respondents, 83% reported often recommending activity, 67% often provided activity advice, and 28% often did activity counseling. There was a high level of acceptability for physical activity promotion as part of psychological treatment. Over 80% of respondents were confident to provide general activity advice, discuss activity options, and problem solve barriers to activity, but less than half were confident to monitor activity levels or to tailor advice. Factors significantly associated with providing activity advice and counseling were: if the psychologist reported doing regular exercise, confidence to provide general activity advice, high acceptability, working in private practice, and clients presenting with general health and well-being issues (p < 0.05). Seventy-two percent of respondents were interested in attending a workshop on providing activity advice and counseling.

Conclusion

Many psychologists are willing and potentially able to promote physical activity as part of psychological treatment and would be likely to participate in relevant professional development.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the New Staff Start-up Research Fund at the University of Queensland. Nicola Burton was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Capacity Building Grant (#252977; Owen, Bauman, Brown) at the time this research was conducted, and also, a postdoctoral fellowship from the Heart Foundation of Australia (PH08B3905) during the preparation of this manuscript. We appreciate the support of the Australian Psychological Society for access to their research participant database and thank those psychologists who responded. Sarah Walters provided invaluable research assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Queensland School of Psychology, Brisbane, Australia

    Kenneth I. Pakenham

  2. The University of Queensland School of Human Movement Studies, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia

    Nicola W. Burton & Wendy J. Brown

Authors
  1. Nicola W. Burton
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  2. Kenneth I. Pakenham
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  3. Wendy J. Brown
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Correspondence to Nicola W. Burton.

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Burton, N.W., Pakenham, K.I. & Brown, W.J. Are Psychologists Willing and Able to Promote Physical Activity as Part of Psychological Treatment?. Int.J. Behav. Med. 17, 287–297 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-010-9087-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-010-9087-8

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