Routledge Handbook of Physical Activity and Mental Health

There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that physical activity can be an inexpensive, safe and effective lifestyle intervention for the prevention and treatment of a wide range of mental health problems. As clinicians around the world look for evidence-based alternatives and complements to established forms of therapy (medication and psychotherapy), there is a strong case to make for the role of physical activity in the promotion of good mental health.

The Routledge Handbook of Physical Activity and Mental Health offers a comprehensive and critical survey of the relationship between exercise and mental health, outlining the conceptual and methodological sophistication that mark contemporary studies in this field, as well presenting key research data plus analysis of practical interventions and techniques. Written by a world-leading team of international scholars and practitioners, the book examines developments across ten main thematic areas:

• physical activity and the ‘feel good’ effect
• anxiety disorders
• depression and mood disorders
• self-perceptions and self-evaluations
• cognitive functions across the lifespan
• psychosocial stress
• pain
• energy and fatigue
• addictions
• quality of life in special populations.

While making a clear link between theory and practice, the book also acknowledges the limitations of previous research and highlights important directions for future work in this area. As the most comprehensive book currently available on the topic of physical activity and mental health, this is essential reading for all scholars, students and practitioners with an interest in mental health and exercise science.

Panteleimon Ekkekakis is an Associate Professor at the Department of Kinesiology, Iowa State University, USA. His research focuses on the affective responses to physical activity of different levels of intensity, as well as the cognitive and physiological factors that influence these responses. His publications span the areas of affective psychology, psychometrics, personality and individual differences, psychophysiology, health psychology, behavioural and preventive medicine, applied physiology, and exercise science. He is also an elected fellow of the American College of Sports medicine.