Assignment 1: Physical Activity & Mental Health: Sources of Evidence
Your first assessment represents 40% of the overall module mark and consists of an essay type submission (1200 words) where you select a mental illness of your choice and evaluate the strength and relative contribution of different sources of evidence linking physical activity to the selected mental illness (LO's 1 and 4)

Assignment 2: Behaviour Change: Physical Activity & Mental Health Intervention
Your second assessment represents 60% of the overall module mark and consists of an essay type submission (1800 words) assessing learning outcomes 2 & 3
You are required to adopt/adapt an existing plan to promote a physical activity related intervention which has the goal of improving the mental well being of a selected population.

Selecting a model of behaviour change, you will highlight how and where aspects of the selected model impact/do not impact on the design and delivery of the intervention.

Your intervention should therefore

- Utilise a model of behaviour change
- Justify the choice of model as opposed to at least one other
- Be evidence based
- Consider mechanisms mediating between physical activity and mental health
- Include other strategies and innovative ideas that you are aware from the literature
- Should conclude with a critical appraisal of the utility of the chosen model

This module requires an overall pass grade

This module provides you with a review of the current state of our understanding of the psychology of
Physical Activity behaviour. You will be introduced to and critically evaluate physical activity theories and models and evaluate a range of different sources of evidence linking physical activity to selected
aspects of mental health and illness. Core topics covered in the module include:

1. Physical Activity: terminology, measurement and policy.
2. An examination of differing sources of evidence with regard to the physical activity- mental health relationship including primary research, traditional review, systematic review, meta analysis and epidemiological research.
3. Theories of behaviour change and the adoption and maintenance of physical activity.
4. The mental health benefits of physical activity - myths and empirical reality.
5. The role of physical activity in the prevention and treatment of (a) anxiety and (b) depression and schizophrenia.
6. Physical Activity, Self Esteem and Affect

Students follow a 8-week distance learning guided study programme and access support material via Blackboard.

Scheduled learning and teaching hours will equate to 4 hours on the module.

Core required tasks will amount to an average of 6 hours of engagement per week, representing a total of 48 activity engagement hours for the module. Guided independent study hours (including preparation for assessments) will equate to 98 hours.

Students are directed to recommended resources (e.g., reading, video tutorials) to support completion

Students will receive formative feedback throughout the module comprising task-related feedback on a week-by-week basis, together with online discussions forums to encourage peer-learning in addition to comments from relevant tutors.

Biddle, S.J.H. & Mutrie, N. & Gorley, T. (2014) Psychology of Physical Activity: Determinants, Well Being and Interventions (3rd Edition). London. Routledge.

Biddle, S.J.H, Fox, K. R. & Boutcher, S.H. (2000) Physical Activity and Psychological Well-Being.
London: Routledge.

Access to an appropriately specified PC, with accompanying Word, PowerPoint, Adobe and Java software. Access to Voicethread software.

None

This module provides you with a review of the current state of our understanding of the psychology of Physical Activity behaviour. You will be introduced to and critically evaluate physical activity theories and models and evaluate a range of different sources of evidence linking physical activity to selected aspects of mental health and illness. Core topics covered in the module include:

1. Physical Activity: terminology, measurement and policy.
2. An examination of differing sources of evidence with regard to the physical activity- mental health relationship including primary research, traditional review, systematic review, meta analysis and epidemiological research.
3. Theories of behaviour change and the adoption and maintenance of physical activity.
4. The mental health benefits of physical activity - myths and empirical reality.
5. The role of physical activity in the prevention and treatment of (a) anxiety and (b) depression and schizophrenia.
6. Physical Activity, Self Esteem and Affect