2025/26 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

SPSC3318 Exercise and Psychological Health

10 Credits Class Size: 75

Module manager: Dr Shaunna Burke
Email: S.Burke@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2025/26

Pre-requisite qualifications

Background in Sport Psychology, or passed at least Level 1 of a Psychology undergraduate degree.

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Objectives

Learning outcomes

On completion of the module students will be able to:
- Critically analyse research in the field of exercise and health psychology;
- Describe the key theoretical models underpinning behaviour change;
- Demonstrate an understanding of how exercise is used as an intervention to promote psychological health;
- Critically review the maladaptive consequences of exercise on psychological health;
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of exercise prescription from a psychological perspective;
- Qualitatively analyse experiences of sedentary behaviour and provide recommendations to enhance exercise adherence.

Syllabus

In this module, students will explore a variety of topics related to exercise and psychological health.

These will include:
- exercise and quality of life;
- exercise and self-perceptions;
- mood and exercise;
- models of exercise behaviour;
- strategies and interventions to enhance exercise adherence;
- dose-response debate;
- exercise dependence;
- body image and eating disorders in sport and exercise.

Many of these will be analysed in relation to the 'normal' population and a clinical population (eg clinically depressed or anxious individuals).

Teaching Methods

Delivery type Number Length hours Student hours
On-line Learning 10 1 10
Workshop 3 2 6
Lecture 1 1 1
Seminar 2 1.5 3
Private study hours 80
Total Contact hours 20
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) 100

Private study

- 3 hours reading per lecture: 30 hours
- Poster preparation: 40 hours
- Self-directed learning: 10 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

- Formative feedback from seminar (weeks 2-5)
- Poster presentation feedback (week 10).

Methods of Assessment

Coursework
Assessment type Notes % of formal assessment
Poster Individual Poster 70
Poster Group Poster 30
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) 100

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading List

Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list

Last updated: 26/09/2025

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team