Intensive Physical Activity and Alexithymia: Results from Swimmers' Discourse Analysis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe and understand the relationship of swimmers' practice intensity and alexithymia features in discourse. This study investigated psychological processes in two groups of male swimmers training at different intensities. The first group was composed of 10 Expert amateurs (M age = 19.5 yr., SD = 1.9), who were competing at the national or international level and trained 22 hours per week. The second group was composed of 10 Amateur swimmers (M age = 20.5 yr., SD = 1.4), who competed at the regional level and trained 6 hours per week. The discourse of swimmers was analysed using the ALCESTE (Analyse de Lexèmes Coocurents dans les Enoncés Simples d'un Texte) method of discourse analysis. Discourse analysis was performed on speech samples produced by swimmers. All the swimmers showed alexithymic verbal behaviour as regards both the means of expression used and the feelings and emotions expressed. This lack of articulateness was more pronounced in the Expert than in the Amateur group. The difference of alexithymic features in correlation with the intensity of sport practice raises the question of the health benefits of intense sports practice and the need for psychological assessment of athletes.

The Relationship between Alexithymia, Dysmorphic Concern, and Exercise Addiction: The Moderating Effect of Self-Esteem

“…The relationship between alexithymia and exercise addiction has been examined in different populations of exercisers, such as those attending fitness centers [24], swimmers [25], and sports university students [26]. Some research has suggested that the use of physical activity could be a means by which these individuals try to suppress their unmentalized emotional states, as a form of dissociation from painful experiences [17,24].…”

Exercise Addiction and Alexithymia

“…We report, for example, the work of Allegre et al (2007) who detect, from the analysis of verbal behaviour which concerns both the meaning of the expressions used and the expressed emotions, the presence of more pronounced alexithymic characteristics in amateur expert swimmers, who spend 22 hours a week training, compared with amateur swimmers who train 6 hours a week. The presence of alexithymia has also been detected in individuals addicted to skydiving: Woodman, Cazenave, Le Scanff (2008) have pointed out how skydiving represents an effective means for alexithymic women to regulate emotions.…”

Alexithymia and Athletic Performance: Beneficial or Deleterious, Both Sides of the Medal? A Systematic Review

“…The risk of burnout in athletes is related to the intensity of training. The studies by Zekioglu et al [ 34 ] and Allegre et al [ 35 ], show that alexithymic athletes train more intensely.…”

“…Indeed, it is known that, in young athletes, high-intensity training can cause emotional problems, injuries, anorexia, and a disruption of the relationship with others [ 56 ]. The studies of Zekioglu et al [ 34 ] and Allegre et al [ 35 ], underline the association between the athlete’s alexithymia and the practice of more intense training, which would be the origin of the burnout. Alexithymic athletes would be more at risk to develop burnout, so we can question the notion of limits in alexithymic athletes.…”

“…In the field of sports, a peculiar attraction for risky sports has been noted among alexithymic athletes, but also an addiction to individual sports, repetitive exercises with an emotional detachment from the task to be performed [ 35 ]. These studies have all identified and focused their work on aspects deleterious to the health of the athlete.…”