What do we know about the Spiritual Dimension of Sport in Sport Psychology? Drs Nesti & Ronkainen (Pt1) - Meaningful Sport Series

Physical Activity Researcher

In this episode, facilitated by Olli Tikkanen, Noora and Mark discuss their work together on the spiritual dimension of sport. While there is growing literature on spirituality in health psychology and occupational psychology, it still remains a somewhat marginal topic in sport studies and especially sport psychology. The episode focuses on exploring what spirituality is, the challenges researchers face when trying to conceptualise it, and the role of culture when we discuss spirituality. Mark also defends a view that love has a spiritual dimension to it.

The discussion draws on the book that Noora and Mark wrote together, Meaning and Spirituality in Sport and Exercise: Psychological Perspectives (Routledge, 2018). The book explores the many forms of spirituality in sport from a psychological perspective including experiences of transcendence and finding deeper meaning to moments of disjuncture such as career-threatening injury and ageing.