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International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction

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Open Access 01-12-2019 | Original Article

The Role of Passion in Exercise Addiction, Exercise Volume, and Exercise Intensity in Long-term Exercisers

Authors: Rita Kovacsik, Mark D. Griffiths, Halley M. Pontes, István Soós, Ricardo de la Vega, Roberto Ruíz-Barquín, Zsolt Demetrovics, Attila Szabo

Published in: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction | Issue 6/2019

Abstract

Recent studies have shown a relationship between the risk for exercise addiction (REA) and passion. This research examined whether levels of REA, volume of exercise (in weekly hours), and self-reported exercise intensities yield differences in obsessive passion and harmonious passion among individuals with long history of exercise. Respondents (n = 360) completed the Exercise Addiction Inventory, Passion Scale, and Borg Scale (assessing their usual exercise intensity), and reported their volume of exercise (hours per week). Regression analysis demonstrated that exercise intensity, obsessive passion, and harmonious passion were significant predictors (r² = .381, p < .001) of the REA scores with obsessive passion being the strongest predictor (r² = .318). Exercisers classified as at REA reported higher obsessive passion, harmonious passion, and exercise intensity (p ≤ .001) than those classified as symptomatic, who in turn scored higher on these measures (p ≤ .006) than asymptomatic exercisers. Participants reporting greater volumes of exercise also scored higher on obsessive passion, harmonious passion (p < .001), exercise intensity (p = .032), and REA scores (p = .042) than individuals who exercised less. Finally, women exercising between low and high intensities exhibited greater obsessive passion, as well as harmonious passion (p ≤ .005) than men reporting similar exercise intensities. These findings support the recently reported relationship between passion and REA. They also expand the current knowledge by demonstrating that obsessive passion and harmonious passion are greater in the individuals who exercise at higher volumes and with higher intensities.

Since this group was comprised by nine men and six women, there was insufficient power to include gender in the analysis.

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Title: The Role of Passion in Exercise Addiction, Exercise Volume, and Exercise Intensity in Long-term Exercisers
Authors: Rita Kovacsik
Mark D. Griffiths
Halley M. Pontes
István Soós
Ricardo de la Vega
Roberto Ruíz-Barquín
Zsolt Demetrovics
Attila Szabo
Publication date: 01-12-2019
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction / Issue 6/2019
Print ISSN: 1557-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1882
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-018-9880-1

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The Role of Passion in Exercise Addiction, Exercise Volume, and Exercise Intensity in Long-term Exercisers

Abstract

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