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Introduction

Explain how using psychological strategies (such as goal setting) you would increase an individuals exercise adherence. Exercise adherence refers to the strength of an individual?s commitment to performing physical activity. People with strong exercise adherence continue physical activity despite opportunities and pressure to withdraw, such as money, time and other commitments. Children and teenagers should engage in exercise often in order to experience the social, physiological and psychological benefits, however ?From ages 12 to 18 is where the drop-out rate is highest.? (anon, 2005). These statistics and other research shows that strategies such as, self talk, visualisation, imagery, relaxation techniques and goal setting must be used in order to increase an individuals exercise adherence. This essay is focused on goal setting and imagery. The term goal refers to attaining a specific level of proficiency on a task, usually within a specified time limit (Locke, Shaw, Saari and Latham 1981). Goal setting relates to setting specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time targeted goals. It is important that goals relate to each of these factors in order to increase an individuals exercise adherence, for example a target must be challenging yet achieveable in order to encourage people to persist with their sport/task. ...read more.

Middle

For example, to improve their high jump height from 5ft 9 inches to 6ft. Although outcome goals are considered important and are what individuals want to achieve most, performance and process goals are considered more important as they relate specifically to the individual and their performance. Goal setting works and is so successful as process and performance goals influence behavior indirectly by affecting important psychological factors such as anxiety and confidence. Aswell as goal setting, other strategies such as imagery can be used in order to increase an individuals exercise adherence. Imagery is the mental creation or re-creation of sensory experiences that appear to the person imagining themselves to be simular to the actual event. (Suinn 1993) Mental imagery involves the athletes imagining themselves in a specific environment or performing a specific activity. The images should have the athlete performing these items very well and successfully. They should see themselves enjoying the activity and feeling satisfied with their performance. Imagery is a powerful tool that can be used in order to increase an individuals exercise adherence, many athletes, professional and amateur imagine and picture themselves performing their upcoming tasks excellently, and this tool has proved to have a positive effect on actual performance. ...read more.

Conclusion

People with strong exercise adherence continue physical activity despite opportunities and pressures to withdraw. However, many recreational exercisers quit within 6 to 8 weeks of starting. Adherence improves significantly when exercisers have good family support. Far fewer spouses who exercise together drop out compared with married people who exercise on their own. Exercise adherence is also higher among those who set themselves achievable but challenging goals; whose exercise is supervised or monitored by a coach or trainer; and whose exercise is not intensive to start with, but which becomes gradually harder. 18:18 Exercise adherence refers to the strength of an individual's commitment to performing physical exercise. People with strong exercise adherence continue physical activity despite opportunities and pressures to withdraw. However, many recreational exercisers quit within 6 to 8 weeks of starting. Adherence improves significantly when exercisers have good family support. Far fewer spouses who exercise together drop out compared with married people who exercise on their own. Exercise adherence is also higher among those who set themselves achievable but challenging goals; whose exercise is supervised or monitored by a coach or trainer; and whose exercise is not intensive to start with, but which becomes gradually harder. ...read more.

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