Laboratory of Social Research on Physical Activity

Director: Symeon P. Vlachopoulos, Associate Professor

The Laboratory of Social Research on Physical Activity was founded in 2008 in the School of Physical Education and Sport Science at Serres of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. The research mission of the laboratory is to conduct basic and applied research to promote an understanding of the factors and mechanisms related (a) to the enhancement and maintenance of regular physical activity participation in the population while achieving the promotion of physical and psychological health and well-being, (b) to the facilitation and maximization of sports performance and (c) to issues of sport and recreation management.

The research goals of the laboratory are to be achieved via:

• The study of factors and mechanisms affecting decision making in terms of participating in regular exercise and leading a physically active lifestyle
• The study of the mechanisms via which regular exercise participation affects a number of psychological and psycho-physiological parameters as well as dimensions of quality of life
• Examining the effects of exercise participation programmes on parameters and dimensions of quality of life in the typical population as well as populations with chronic diseases
• The study of psychological factors related to enhanced sports performance