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Conceptions of Well-Being in Psychology and Exercise Psychology Research: A Philosophical Critique

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Abstract

The potential of physical activity to improve our health has been the subject of extensive research [38]. The relationship between physical activity and well-being has prompted substantial interest from exercise psychologists in particular [3], and it seems, is generating increasing interest outside the academic community in healthcare policy and practice inter alia through GP referrals for exercise. Researchers in the field have benefited from a rich tradition within psychology that investigates subjective well-being and its antecedents [7]. We argue that the exercise and health psychology research suffers from this intellectual ancestry specifically in the form of two significant conceptual limitations. First, short-term pleasure and enjoyment which are associated with exercise induced well-being may mask activities that are doing us no good or even harm us [18]. Second, focusing on pleasure entails unacceptable methodological reductionism which undermines the validity of such research by excluding other ways in which our well-being may be enhanced in non-hedonistic terms.

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Notes

  1. The research cited differs according to its dimension. Concerning the relationship between physical activity and mood [2]; self-esteem [11], anxiety and stress [35]; and depression [22].

  2. Although this paper concentrates upon subjective well-being and its use in psychological research, acknowledgement should be made of the work of Ryff and Singer as well as certain Self Determination theorists. These alternative psychological approaches to well-being depart from purely subjective accounts. See Ref. [29] on positive health, and for ‘A Review of Research on Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being’ see Ref. [28], prominent self-determination theorists, providing ample indication of how well-being is conceptualised from a self-determination theory perspective.

  3. For a comprehensive review of these factors and their contribution to well-being see Ref. [7].

  4. Seedhouse [31] develops a conception of healthy precisely on these lines.

  5. For a detailed philosophical discussion of quality of life conceived of as capability to function see [25].

  6. In this they follow the classic analysis of Nozick [23] who by thought experiment explores whether we should plug ourselves into an experience machine that would simulate any and all of the experiences that we would like to feel. He concludes that such a life is not worthy of a human person who should not merely be the subject of experiences. For an analysis of this in relation to exercise and sports see McNamee [20].

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  1. School of Health Science, Centre for Philosophy, Humanities and Law in Healthcare, University of Wales Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK

    Andrew Bloodworth & Mike McNamee

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  2. Mike McNamee
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Correspondence to Mike McNamee.

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Bloodworth, A., McNamee, M. Conceptions of Well-Being in Psychology and Exercise Psychology Research: A Philosophical Critique. Health Care Anal 15, 107–121 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10728-007-0048-6

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