Positive Psychology in Sport and Physical Activity ― An Introduction

Positive psychology (PP) is a fast developing domain that emphasises personal growth and the positive qualities and values of life. This is the first book to introduce the principles and practice of PP within sport and exercise. Paradoxically, in attempting to help people enjoy sport and exercise and achieve peak performances, sport psychology has often focused on topics such as anxiety, stress and burnout. By contrast, this book shows how PP builds on concepts such as athlete-centredness, flourishing, character, optimism, and resilience in order to improve sporting performance and enhance the physical and mental well-being of athletes and the general population.

Abbe Brady is Programme Director of Sports Coaching at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, London. Through her applied work as a registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist as well as her research, Abbe has developed an interest in well-being and positive psychology applications within sport settings. She has led symposia and workshops introducing positive psychology to students and practitioners in sport and she presents on a range of PP related themes at national and international conferences

Bridget Grenville-Cleave was a founder member of the International Positive Psychology Association and the Centre for Applied Positive Psychology. She is a visiting lecturer on the MSc in Applied Positive Psychology at the University of East London, UK, the iMAPP at Anglia Ruskin University, UK, and at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic. She runs well-being, resilience and engagement training programmes for the health, education and business sectors and is passionate about community engagement using applied positive psychology. Bridget has written four psychology books including Positive Psychology - A Practical Guide (2012)