Scores on Exercise Dependence among Dancers

Abstract

A number of researchers have suggested that the syndrome of exercise dependence (addiction) is paralleled by a tendency towards eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia. As considerable research has reported a high incidence of eating disorders among dancers and as rigorous physical demands are inherent in dance, we hypothesized that dancers would present a higher profile of exercise dependence on the Negative Addiction Scale than other athletes. To test this hypothesis, 47 female ballet and modern dancers completed a survey on exercise dependence adapted from Hailey and Bailey (1982) to assess quantitatively exercise dependence. Scores were compared with those obtained from 39 female endurance (running) athletes and 16 female nonendurance (field hockey) athletes. Significantly higher scores on dependence for dancers than for endurance or nonendurance athletes were noted. The data indicate that dancers may be at greater risk for psychophysiological problems associated with exercise dependence than other athletes and so should be monitored for symptoms.

Perfectionism and learning experiences in dance class as risk factors for eating disorders in dancers

“…Dancers score higher on measures of eating disturbance (e.g. Abraham, 1996; Ackard, Henderson, & Wonderlich, 2004; Neumarker, Bettle, Bettle, Dudeck, & Neumarker, 1998; Neumarker, Bettle, Neumarker, & Bettle, 2000), body dissatisfaction, (Bettle, Bettle, Neumarker, & Neumarker, 1998; Ravaldi, Vannacci, Zucchi, Mannucci, Cabras, & Boldrini, 2003; Szmukler, Eisler, Gillies, & Hayward, 1985), and have higher disturbances in weight control behaviours and eating attitudes (Dotti, Fioravanti, Balotta, Tozzi, Cannella, & Lazzari, 2002; Pierce, Daleng, & McGowan, 1993) compared to non‐dancer controls, for a comprehensive review of literature examining dancers see Solomon and Solomon (1996).…”

Learning experiences in dance class predict adult eating disturbance

“…Dancers have been found to have higher prevalence rates of eating disorders (Abraham, 1996;Garner & Garfinkel, 1980;Garner et al, 1987;Hamilton et al, 1985;Ravaldi et al, 2003;Szmukler et al, 1985), to score higher on measures of eating disturbance (Abraham, 1996;Ackard, Henderson, & Wonderlich, 2004;Hamilton et al, 1985;Lowenkopf & Vincent, 1982;Neumarker, Bettle, Bettle, Dudeck, & Neumarker, 1998;Neumarker, Bettle, Neumarker, & Bettle, 2000;Ravaldi, Vannacci, Bolognesi, Mancini, Faravelli, & Ricca, 2006), to have higher levels of body dissatisfaction Ravaldi et al, 2003;Szmukler et al, 1985), to exhibit more pathological weight control behaviours (Pierce, Daleng, & McGowan, 1993), to have more pathological attitudes towards weight and eating (Dotti, Fioravanti, Balotta, Tozzi, Cannella, & Lazzari, 2002;Pierce & Daleng, 1998;Pierce et al, 1993), and to have higher rates of amenorrhoea than do non-dancers (Fogelholm, Lichtenbelt, Ottenheijm, & Westerterp, 1996;le Grange, Tibbs, & Noakes, 1994). In one study, 40% of ballet dancers were below 85% of ideal body weight (IBW), which is the body weight criterion for anorexia nervosa, and 23.5% were below 75% of IBW (Abraham, 1996).…”

“…Most previous research has compared two extremes on the distribution of dance experience: Non-dancers versus elite or professional ballet dancers (Abraham, 1996;Bettle et al, 1998;Dotti et al, 2002;Fogelholm et al, 1996;Garner & Garfinkel, 1980;Garner et al, 1987;Hamilton et al, 1985;Holderness et al, 1994;Neumarker et al, 1998;Neumarker et al, 2000;Pierce & Daleng, 1998;Pierce et al, 1993;Ringham et al, 2006;Szmukler et al, 1985). Because of the importance of thinness for professional or ballet dancers, this extreme group comparison approach likely confounds membership in dance class with learning about the benefits or necessity of thinness.…”

Argentine tango: Another behavioral addiction?

“…These results, which are consistent with observational study (RT, personal communication), might suggest that tango dancers are not specifically at risk of any addiction but this needs to be confirmed by studies based on validated diagnostic tools. In other behavioral addictions, the prevalence of co-dependence seems to vary according to the behavior: high prevalence of anorexia in professional ballet dancers (Pierce, Daleng & Mcgowan, 1993), frequent substance use disorders in pathological gamblers or compulsive sexual addicts (Grant, 2008), lower rate of smokers in exercise dependent subjects (Lejoyeux, Avril, Richoux, Embouazza & Nivoli, 2008). …”