A Social Identity Approach to Understanding and Promoting Physical Activity

Abstract

Against the backdrop of a global physical inactivity crisis, attempts to both understand and positively influence physical activity behaviours are characterized by a focus on individual-level factors (e.g. cognitions, attitudes, motivation). We outline a new perspective, drawn from an emerging body of work exploring the applicability of social identity and self-categorization theories to domains of sport and health, from which to understand and address this pervasive problem. This social identity approach suggests that the groups to which people belong can be, and often are, incorporated into their sense of self and, through this, are powerful determinants of physical activity-related behaviour. We start by reviewing the current state of physical activity research and highlighting the potential for the social identity approach to help understand how social factors influence these behaviours. Next, we outline the theoretical underpinnings of the social identity approach and provide three key examples that speak to the analytical and practical value of the social identity approach in physical activity settings. Specifically, we argue that social identity (1) can be harnessed to promote engagement in physical activity, (2) underpins exercise group behaviour, and (3) underpins effective leadership in exercise settings. We conclude by identifying prospects for a range of theory-informed research developments.

Pathways to Increasing Adolescent Physical Activity and Wellbeing: A Mediation Analysis of Intervention Components Designed Using a Participatory Approach

“…Both increased self-esteem and social support appeared to mediate the association between higher perceived mentor support and increased wellbeing. It has been previously suggested that mentors who represent, advance, create and embed a shared sense of social identity can aid participation in physical activity [64]. Even though this was not supported here regarding MVPA, our results suggest that this may extend to wellbeing.…”

“…Concerns around masculine and feminine ideologies of health-related behaviour and body image are very relevant to physical activity promotion in a school setting but are rarely central to physical activity provision in schools. It follows that considering social identity in physical activity promotion may have particular value in schools as it has been proposed to have the potential to facilitate the promotion of exercise behaviour, to impact physical activity norms positively and this also has been identified as facilitating successful mentorship [64]. We previously proposed that boys' opinions may hold more weight in the class environment [25].…”

Leaders promote attendance in sport and exercise sessions by fostering social identity

“…13,16,17 As such, they add to growing evidence for the benefits of favorable group environments for promoting physical activity, and further demonstrate the impact of social factors on individuals' physical activity behaviors. 40 Our hope is that the findings reported here stimulate greater attention to the importance of leaders in physical activity settings, and, in particular, lay the foundation for (a) causal examinations of the effects of identity leadership in physical activity settings (eg, using longitudinal and experimental designs), and (b) attempts to implement the principles of identity leadership in physical activity settings (eg, through interventions).…”

Leading us to be active: A two-wave test of relationships between identity leadership, group identification, and attendance.

“…Building on these promising findings, recent research has examined the role that physical activity leaders can play in fostering members' group identification, and thus greater rates of attendance in group sessions (Stevens, Rees, Coffee, et al, 2018). Extending growing evidence from organizational (Steffens, Yang, Jetten, Haslam, & Lipponen, 2017), political (Steffens & Haslam, 2013) and sports performance (Slater & Barker, 2018) domains, this research points to the benefits of leaders engaging in identity leadership (Haslam et al, 2011).…”

“…That is, leaders acting to represent, advance, create, and embed an identity that is shared by members of the particular group they lead (Haslam et al, 2011;Steffens et al, 2014). Specifically, in addition to providing further evidence of a positive relationship between individuals' sport or exercise group identification and their participation in grouprelevant activity, researchers have found (1) a positive association between group members' perceptions of their leaders' engagement in identity leadership and their own group identification, and (2) that the positive relationship between members' perceptions of their leaders' engagement in identity leadership and members' attendance is mediated by their group identification (Stevens, Rees, Coffee, et al, 2018). Moreover, these effects have been observed for multiple facets of identity leadership, providing preliminary evidence that physical activity leaders should strive (1) to represent and embody the particular qualities and attributes that define the group and set it apart from other groups (i.e., be seen as a prototypical group member), (2) to champion the group's identity and interests (i.e., to be seen to engage in identity advancement), (3) to play an active role in creating and shaping the group's identity and a collective sense of 'we' and 'us' (i.e., to act as identity entrepreneurs), and (4) to devise activities that make the group matter, and allow its shared identity to be lived out (i.e., to act as identity impresarios).…”