Studies of Brazilian psychology on physical activity: An integrative review

Abstract

The present study aimed to identify, through an integrative review of the literature, the Brazilian publications focused on psychology and physical activity. The descriptions "psychology" and "physical activity" in SciELO, LILACS, BVS PSi, Index Psi and PePSIC databases were selected from the years 2013 to 2018 in Brazil. We selected 43 articles, 9 theoretical and 34 empirical, which were later classified according to the study theme and the method used in their respective publications. In the thematic category, the following categories were developed: health, life cycle and others. In the methodological category, the studies were divided into: empirical and theoretical studies. The results pointed to a decline of publications from 2015, also problematizes the need to analyze the psychological aspects in relation to the practice of physical activity in the contemporaneity, as well as a wealth of theoretical and methodological perspectives, which allows the verification of the importance thematic and its application in different contexts. However, it was also observed the predominance among the national studies, mainly quantitative and experimental empirical, considering the importance of physical activity for well-being and promotion in the quality of life of the population in different stages of the life cycle.