title: A Social Identity Approach to Understanding and Promoting Physical Activity.
abstract: Against the backdrop of a global physical inactivity crisis, attempts to both understand and positively influence physical activity behaviours are characterized by a focus on individual-level factors (e.g. cognitions, attitudes, motivation). We outline a new perspective, drawn from an emerging body of work exploring the applicability of social identity and self-categorization theories to domains of sport and health, from which to understand and address this pervasive problem. This social identity approach suggests that the groups to which people belong can be, and often are, incorporated into their sense of self and, through this, are powerful determinants of physical activity-related behaviour. We start by reviewing the current state of physical activity research and highlighting the potential for the social identity approach to help understand how social factors influence these behaviours. Next, we outline the theoretical underpinnings of the social identity approach and provide three key examples that speak to the analytical and practical value of the social identity approach in physical activity settings. Specifically, we argue that social identity (1) can be harnessed to promote engagement in physical activity, (2) underpins exercise group behaviour, and (3) underpins effective leadership in exercise settings. We conclude by identifying prospects for a range of theory-informed research developments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Faculty of Management, Bournemouth University, Dorset House, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, BH12 5BB, UK. mstevens@bournemouth.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7908-3624
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Faculty of Management, Bournemouth University, Dorset House, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, BH12 5BB, UK.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK.
authors.forename: Pete
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coffee
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, McElwain Building, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Niklas K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Steffens
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, McElwain Building, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: S Alexander
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Haslam
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Dorset House, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, BH12 5BB, UK.
authors.forename: Remco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Polman
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D015444:Exercise; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D009043:Motor Activity; D012933:Social Identification; D013177:Sports
keywords: Cardiac Rehabilitation; Nordic Walking; Physical Activity; Physical Activity Behaviour; Social Identity