Discursive psychology: An alternative approach for studying adherence to exercise and physical activity

Within exercise psychology, social cognitive theories have allowed researchers to identify possible influences and mechanisms that account for exercise and physical activity participation. These approaches have advanced the development of interventions to enhance and maintain exercise adherence. Despite this, the adherence problem remains unsolved. This paper introduces an alternative perspective known as discursive psychology and explores its potential for understanding adherence. How this approach differs from leading approaches is highlighted. Discursive psychology's potential contribution via its focus on discourse and what is accomplished through people's use of words is considered in detail. How discursive psychology contributes to understanding exercise adherence by opening up new avenues of research and associated methodologies is also discussed. It is concluded this approach will complement and enhance existing approaches by focusing on how people are situated within discourses and how this affords and limits how they speak, feel, and behave with respect to exercise.