A Commentary on the Development of a Physical Activity Community-Based Peer Mentorship Intervention: Theoretical and Practical Insights from the Social Identity Approach

The use of social identity theorising to inform public health interventions is a conceptually salient, yet currently underutilised approach. The social identity approach elaborates on the primary psychological mechanisms underpinning social identification, as well as providing supporting evidence for the plethora of health and well-being benefits that are derived from being a member of social groups. Notwithstanding, to date there remains little practical guidance for how the social identity approach can be harnessed to inform the development of complex behaviour change interventions which take place in diverse public health settings, such as Exercise Referral Schemes (ERSs). This article presents a summary overview of how the social identity approach was used to inform the development of a bespoke peer mentorship-based intervention for ERSs. As such, we provide a case study example outlining the practical implementation of the social identity approach within a diverse public health context. Some critical reflections are discussed that have broader relevance for other public health interventions that seek to embed peer support provision.