Psychology Research Methods and How it Relates to the Fitness Industry
There is an indisputable intersection between mental health and fitness. While the benefits of fitness on mental health are widely known and studied on a larger scale, there is still lots a nuance and specifics to be further examined. Questions such as how different types of fitness routines can help with various mental health struggles, what coaches can do in their coaching and programming to help provide mental health support, and what language and communication styles may be more beneficial or harmful, have all yet to be further explored. Alisha Ali’s article “A Framework for Emancipatory Inquiry in Psychology: Lessons from Feminist Methodology” and Marc Applebaum’s article “Phenomenological Psychological Research as Science” both lay out great points about research in psychology that can also be applied to research in the fitness world especially with the goal of looking at the cross-sections between mental health and fitness.
The main topic in Ali’s Article discusses how there is a lack of representation in psychology research as it often leaves out individuals experiencing houselessness, poverty, unemployment, racism, and gender discrimination. This is a trend that exists in research in fitness as well. For one reason or another, research is often focused on white, cisgender, able bodied, neurotypical, men. This leaves a large population left without as much guidance. What this research, or rather lack of research, is indirectly stating is that there are certain types of individuals who are more worthy of progress and knowledge in the world of mental health and in fitness
Ali states that “Because emancipation requires a deliberate move toward the creation of alternate conceptualizations and formulations that reject existing power differentials, it is not enough that research simply be applied; socially-responsible research must additionally challenge restricting models of race, gender and class that do not present the possibility of progressive social change.” (pg. 33) In order to provide better care in mental health and physical health, research needs to be expanded in terms of who is included and focused on in studies and more research needs to be created with the focus of social change. For example, there is little research on training needs and specifics for trans individuals. There is additionally, even less information on how coaching language affects trans individuals’ experience in a gym. While we know that working out helps with mental health, do we understand how an environment that does not center trans individuals’ needs creates harmful mental health effects? These are the more nuanced questions that need to be asked and researched in order to create a broader spectrum of knowledge to serve a larger portion of the population.
Another point that is stated in Ali’s and Applebaum’s articles, is the importance of qualitative research. “From an empiricist standpoint, phenomenological psychology is dismissed as unscientific because it is a qualitative approach.” (Applebaum, pg. 41) A common occurrence that exists in fitness research, is studies are highly standardized which may be good for replicating similar results in future studies, but often make it very challenging to adapt into real life. In order to standardize a study, there may be certain equipment used, timing, techniques etc. that do not translate into a real life training environment. For those experiencing poverty, there might not be access to a specific piece of equipment. For those with certain physical disabilities, there might not be the physical ability to accomplish certain tasks in the way specified. For those experiencing pregnancy, their training needs may be different. There are myriad factors that have been left out due to standardization. Just as studies can have far reaching implications, a lack of research can also have far reaching implications. What is the mental health drain and harm created when the abundance of research does not focuses in on individuals who do not fit in societies term of “ the majority?”
At the end of the day mental health and physical health are both studying people. Complete standardization is impossible when studying people as there are too many factors to consider. This is why qualitative research is so important when looking further into supporting research of the intersection between psychology and fitness.
