BeckmanInstitute
Edward McAuley does groundbreaking work at the intersection of psychology and physical activity, studying topics like exercise program compliance and the improvements in cognitive health that can result from a more active lifestyle.
McAuley is head of the Exercise Psychology Laboratory at the University of Illinois, a lab which focuses on the study of determinants and consequences of physical activity behavior across the life span. McAuley collaborates frequently with Art Kramer in projects that look at the effects of aerobic fitness training on brain function and structure in older adults. He also collaborates with Beckman colleague Karl Rosengren investigating the influences of physical activity on psychological and motor functions and their relation to disability and function in older adults.
Part of the mission of McAuleys work, as he writes, is to emphasize physical activity promotion across the life span and those factors that contribute to independent living and quality of life, with a research focus on physical activity and well-being across the life span and the relationships among physical activity, social cognitive factors, function, disability, and quality of life.
McAuley said his research focus in this area is on the behavioral science side of the problem, addressing issues of intervention compliance and retention from a social cognitive perspective. In this video interview, McAuley talks about his studies of behavior as it relates to exercise.
©2008 Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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