Striving for success or addiction? Exercise dependence among elite Australian athletes
McNamara, Justin McCabe, Marita Patricia
McNamara, Justin
McCabe, Marita Patricia
Abstract
Exercise dependence is a condition that involves a preoccupation and involvement with training and exercise, and has serious health and performance consequences for athletes. We examined the validity of a biopsychosocial model to explain the development and maintenance of exercise dependence among elite Australian athletes. Participants were 234 elite Australian athletes recruited from institutes and academies of sport. Thirty-four percent of elite athletes were classified as having exercise dependence based on high scores on the measure of exercise dependence. These athletes had a higher body mass index, and more extreme and maladaptive exercise beliefs compared to non-dependent athletes. They also reported higher pressure from coaches and teammates, and lower social support, compared to athletes who were not exercise dependent. These results support the utility of a biopsychosocial model of exercise dependence in understanding the aetiology of exercise dependence among elite athletes. Limitations of the study and future research directions are highlighted.
Keywords
biopsychosocial model, pressure from coaches, social support, training and exercise
Date
2012
Type
Journal article
Journal
Journal of Sports Sciences
Book
Volume
30
Issue
8
Page Range
755-766