Exploring the Risk of Exercise Dependence: The Analysis of Stress as a Mediator
2025 (English)Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
For some individuals, exercise may become maladaptive and used as a coping strategy, increasing the risk of developing exercise dependence. Based on the expanded interaction model of exercise addiction used as a framework, the present study investigates risk factors regarding exercise dependence further. The aim was to investigate if stress mediates the relationship between exercise identity and exercise dependence and between body dissatisfaction and exercise dependence. A total of 99 regular exercisers participated in the study, consisting of 61 women and 38 men ranging from 20 to 63 years old (M = 33.37, SD = 10.24). The majority of the participants used strength training (n = 35) and high-intensity training (n = 44) as the primary form of exercise. Participants completed an online questionnaire consisting of the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ), Exercise Dependence Scale-Revised (EDS-R), Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS), The Exercise Identity Scale (EIS), the appearance evaluation (MBSRQ-AE) and orientation (MBSRQ-AO) subscales from the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire’s (MBSRQ). The result showed that stress did not significantly mediate the effect of these relationships, although stress was still significantly correlated with exercise dependence. The direct effects of exercise identity and body dissatisfaction also significantly correlated with exercise dependence. Further research is recommended to enhance understanding of potential risk factors and mediating processes that may explain the development of exercise dependence.
Abstract [sv]
För vissa individer kan träningen bli ett maladaptivt beteende och användas som en copingstrategi, vilket ökar risken för att utveckla ett träningsberoende. Baserat på the expanded interaction model of exercise addiction som användes som ramverk, undersöker den här studien ytterligare riskfaktorer för träningsberoende. Syftet var att undersöka om stress medierar sambandet mellan träningsidentitet och träningsberoende samt mellan kroppsmissnöje och träningsberoende. Totalt deltog 99 regelbundna motionärer i studien, bestående av 61 kvinnor och 38 män i åldrarna 20 till 63 år (M = 33,37, SD = 10,24). Majoriteten av deltagarna använde styrketräning (n = 35) och högintensiv träning (n = 44) som den primära träningsformen. Deltagarna fyllde i ett online-frågeformulär som bestod av Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ), Exercise Dependence Scale-Revised (EDS-R), Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS), Exercise Identity Scale (EIS), Appearance evaluation (MBSRQ-AE) och Orientation (MBSRQ-AO) subskalor från Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire’s (MBSRQ). Resultatet visade att stress inte signifikant medierade dessa samband, även om stress fortfarande var signifikant korrelerad med träningsberoende. De direkta effekterna av både träningsidentitet och kroppsmissnöje var signifikant korrelerade med träningsberoende. Ytterligare forskning rekommenderas för att öka förståelsen för potentiella riskfaktorer och mediterande processer som kan förklara utvecklingen av träningsberoende.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2025. , p. 39
Keywords [en]
exercise dependence, exercise identity, stress, body dissatisfaction
Keywords [sv]
träningsberoende, träningsidentitet, stress, kroppsmissnöje
National Category
Psychology (Excluding Applied Psychology) Health Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-55777OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hh-55777DiVA, id: diva2:1949745
Educational program
Psychology - Sport and Exercise, 180 credits
Supervisors
Examiners
Note
This thesis is part of a joint study project where data collection, data analysis, and some parts of the thesis were done together with Leah Viola Bernitzky.
2025-04-252025-04-032025-04-25Bibliographically approved