Physical Fitness Training: Beneficial for Professional Psychologists?

A survey was conducted to explore the degree to which practicing psychologists are involved in exercise programs, the patterns of exercise favored, and the degree of effect attributed to exercise on various dimensions of psychotherapy practice. Survey instruments were mailed to 262 psychologists listed in the National Register of Health Service Providers; 196 (74.81%) responded. Most of the respondents (71.43%) reported engaging in regular exercise. Chi-square analyses revealed that patterns of exercise were related to demographic factors. Dimensions of psychotherapy perceived as most positively affected by exercise were the physical stamina, mood, and mental stamina of the therapist. Analyses of variance revealed that demographic and exercise pattern variables were related to perceptions of exercise effect on some of the dimensions of psychotherapy. Most respondents reported that they would recommend regular exercise both to other therapists and to patients.