Abstract
Objectives—To explore, using qualitative methods, the concept of exercise dependence. Semistructured interviews were undertaken with subjects screened for exercise dependence and eating disorders.
Methods—Female exercisers, four in each case, were allocated a priori to four groups: primary exercise dependent; secondary exercise dependent, where there was a coincidence of exercise dependence and an eating disorder; eating disordered; control, where there was no evidence of either exercise dependence or eating disorder. They were asked about their exercise and eating attitudes and behaviour, as well as about any history of psychological distress. Their narratives were taped, transcribed, and analysed from a social constructionist perspective using QSR NUD*IST.
Results—Participants classified as primary exercise dependent either showed no evidence of exercise dependent attitudes and behaviour or, if they exhibited features of exercise dependence, displayed symptoms of an eating disorder. Only the latter reported a history of psychological distress, similar to that exhibited by women classified as secondary exercise dependent or eating disordered. For secondary exercise dependent and eating disordered women, as well as for controls, the narratives largely confirmed the a priori classification.
Conclusions—Where exercise dependence was manifest, it was always in the context of an eating disorder, and it was this co-morbidity, in addition to eating disorders per se, that was associated with psychological distress. As such, these qualitative data support the concept of secondary, but not primary, exercise dependence.
Key Words: exercise dependence; eating disorders; psychological distress; anorexia; bulimia
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (143.6 KB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Bamber D., Cockerill I. M., Carroll D. The pathological status of exercise dependence. Br J Sports Med. 2000 Apr;34(2):125–132. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.34.2.125. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bamber D., Cockerill I. M., Carroll D. The pathological status of exercise dependence. Br J Sports Med. 2000 Apr;34(2):125–132. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.34.2.125. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Blumenthal J. A., O'Toole L. C., Chang J. L. Is running an analogue of anorexia nervosa? An empirical study of obligatory running and anorexia nervosa. JAMA. 1984 Jul 27;252(4):520–523. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Brewerton T. D., Stellefson E. J., Hibbs N., Hodges E. L., Cochrane C. E. Comparison of eating disorder patients with and without compulsive exercising. Int J Eat Disord. 1995 May;17(4):413–416. doi: 10.1002/1098-108x(199505)17:4<413::aid-eat2260170414>3.0.co;2-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Charmaz K. 'Discovering' chronic illness: using grounded theory. Soc Sci Med. 1990;30(11):1161–1172. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(90)90256-r. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Davis C., Kennedy S. H., Ralevski E., Dionne M., Brewer H., Neitzert C., Ratusny D. Obsessive compulsiveness and physical activity in anorexia nervosa and high-level exercising. J Psychosom Res. 1995 Nov;39(8):967–976. doi: 10.1016/0022-3999(95)00064-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Davis C., Kennedy S. H., Ravelski E., Dionne M. The role of physical activity in the development and maintenance of eating disorders. Psychol Med. 1994 Nov;24(4):957–967. doi: 10.1017/s0033291700029044. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Fairburn C. G., Beglin S. J. Assessment of eating disorders: interview or self-report questionnaire? Int J Eat Disord. 1994 Dec;16(4):363–370. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Loftus E. F., Marburger W. Since the eruption of Mt. St. Helens, has anyone beaten you up? Improving the accuracy of retrospective reports with landmark events. Mem Cognit. 1983 Mar;11(2):114–120. doi: 10.3758/bf03213465. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pierce E. F., Daleng M. L., McGowan R. W. Scores on exercise dependence among dancers. Percept Mot Skills. 1993 Apr;76(2):531–535. doi: 10.2466/pms.1993.76.2.531. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Slay H. A., Hayaki J., Napolitano M. A., Brownell K. D. Motivations for running and eating attitudes in obligatory versus nonobligatory runners. Int J Eat Disord. 1998 Apr;23(3):267–275. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1098-108x(199804)23:3<267::aid-eat4>3.0.co;2-h. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- de Coverley Veale D. M. Exercise dependence. Br J Addict. 1987 Jul;82(7):735–740. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1987.tb01539.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]