<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Participation rates in a number of health-related behaviors, such as physical activity, have shown recent declines. To promote participation, psychological health behavior change theories have been developed to understand and help identify relevant psychological processes. Such processes can then be targeted within interventions utilizing specific behavior change techniques (BCTs). Although the use of these theories and BCTs is useful in facilitating change, such work could be enhanced through the inclusion and consideration of philosophical positions. Existentialism suggests that the absurdity and meaningless of human life allows the individual to create their own meaning within a behavior. This philosophical position thus places meaning and individual purpose at the center of human behavior. The purpose of this article is to connect the theoretical insights and BCTs outlined within health psychological behavior change theories with the philosophical position of existentialism. The integration of this philosophical position, and potentially many others, with psychological ideas may provide useful insights into the promotion of health-related behaviors.</p></abstract>

Participation rates in a number of health-related behaviors, such as physical activity, have shown recent declines. To promote participation, psychological health behavior change theories have been developed to understand and help identify relevant psychological processes. Such processes can then be targeted within interventions utilizing specific behavior change techniques (BCTs). Although the use of these theories and BCTs is useful in facilitating change, such work could be enhanced through the inclusion and consideration of philosophical positions. Existentialism suggests that the absurdity and meaningless of human life allows the individual to create their own meaning within a behavior. This philosophical position thus places meaning and individual purpose at the center of human behavior. The purpose of this article is to connect the theoretical insights and BCTs outlined within health psychological behavior change theories with the philosophical position of existentialism. The integration of this philosophical position, and potentially many others, with psychological ideas may provide useful insights into the promotion of health-related behaviors.

Bridging the Gap Between Health Psychology and Philosophy: An Existential Approach to Promoting Physical Activity

Physical Culture and Sport. Studies and Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Participation rates in a number of health-related behaviors, such as physical activity, have shown recent declines. To promote participation, psychological...

Bridging the Gap Between Health Psychology and Philosophy: An Existential Approach to Promoting Physical Activity

Published Online: Mar 29, 2019

Page range: 13 - 22

Received: Jan 21, 2019

Accepted: Mar 03, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/pcssr-2019-0002

Keywords
Existentialism, psychology, worldview, meaning in life

© 2019 Tom St Quinton et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Bridging the Gap Between Health Psychology and Philosophy: An Existential Approach to Promoting Physical Activity

Published Online: Mar 29, 2019

Page range: 13 - 22

Received: Jan 21, 2019

Accepted: Mar 03, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/pcssr-2019-0002

KeywordsExistentialism, psychology, worldview, meaning in life

© 2019 Tom St Quinton et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Existentialism, psychology, worldview, meaning in life