Individual Factors and the Context of Physical Activity in Exercise Dependence: A Prospective Study of ‘Ultra-Marathoners’

Abstract

Although there is a growing body of literature examining determinants and correlates of exercise dependence, there has been a lack systematic measures of individual factors combined with the context of physical activity characteristics. The aim of this prospective study was therefore to examine the relative influence of individual factors and environmental context of physical activity on exercise dependence. This study examined a group of 95 'ultra-marathoners' of a 100 km race. Each participant completed a questionnaire that assessed individual factors (e.g., sex, age, BMI, marital status, etc.), context of the physical activity (e.g., environmental and social context of practice), and the effect on the body as a result of physical activity (e.g., body control and modification). For participants in this study, the strongest predictors of exercise dependence were individual factors (age and BMI), and exercising in the city in an unstructured space. It is concluded that an ecological model of physical activity could be applied to exercise dependence, and that exercise dependence could provide interesting insights into the promotion of physical activity as a health-related behaviour.

Relationship among sociodemographic and sport variables, exercise dependence, and burnout: a preliminary study in athletes

“…For example, studies report differences in exercise dependence in men and women depending on the assessment instrument used (Weik & Hale, 2009): men show high levels of dependence when using the Exercise Dependence Scale (EDS), whereas the Exercise Dependence Questionnaire (EDP) gives an opposite result with women having greater dependence. Some authors even report no gender differences (Allegre, Therme, & Griffiths, 2007;Lindwall & Palmeira, 2009;Reche, Martínez-Rodríguez, & Ortín, 2015). Also, there is some controversy about the age for the onset of the disorder.…”

“…Also, there is some controversy about the age for the onset of the disorder. Most researchers agree that exercise dependence has a greater influence on young athletes (Allegre et al, 2007;Lindwall & Palmeira, 2009;González-Cutre & Sicilia, 2012). Others, however, have found no associations (Klein et al, 2004).…”

Validación de la Escala de Adicción al Entrenamiento (EAE) en atletas veteranos

“…En estudios previos se mantenía que el 26% de 240 hombres y el 25% de 84 mujeres eran clasificados como corredores obligados (Slay, Hayaki, Napolitano y Brownell, 1998) o como han dejado constancia Lejoyeux, Avril, Richoux, Embouazza y Navoli (2008) aproximadamente el 42% de los miembros en un club deportivo parisino se ajustaban a los criterios para la adicción al ejercicio. Sin embargo, sólo un 3.2% de 95 ultra-maratonianos podía considerarse en riesgo de adicción al ejercicio (Allegre, Therme y Griffiths, 2007).…”

Avaliação da dependência à prática de karatê e a sua relação com o tempo de treino

“…No âmbito da pesquisa no Brasil já foi validado um questionário que avalia DEF em maratonistas 8 e suas repercussões negativas, tradicionalmente descritas na população de atletas principalmente em maratonistas 8,11 ; porém alguns outros trabalhos já foram realizados com fisiculturistas e levantadores de peso 12 ; praticantes de corrida de aventura 6 ; ultra maratonistas 13 e até mesmo em atletas de karatê estilo Shotokan 14 . Em relação a este último público já foi registrado que há tendência dos atletas de karatê Shotokan exibirem um perfil de comprometimento à prática relacionado ao estilo de vida, mais do que uma dependência propriamente dita, abrindo a perspectiva de que a DEF esteja relacionada ao tipo de exercício praticado, além de outras variáveis com tempo de atividade, intensidade, frequência etc 10,14,15 .…”