Whereas clinical professionals and the general public recognize exercise in moderate amounts as an important component of a healthy lifestyle, researchers have noted that when taken to an excessive level, exercise may become addictive. Usually considered rare in the broad exercising population, risk for exercise addiction has been found to be more prominent among certain specialized groups, such as runners. This study investigated the risk for exercise addiction in a unique group of endurance athletes-Sprint-, Olympic-, Half-Ironman, and Ironman-distance triathletes. The sample consisted of 1285 male and female triathletes, ranging in age from 18 to 70 years old, recruited through the electronic newsletter of a national triathlon organization. During the past year participants completed at least one triathlon of Sprint-, Olympic-, Half-Ironman-, and/or Ironman-distance, or were in training for one. To measure the risk for exercise addiction, participants completed an online questionnaire, comprising the six items of the Exercise Addiction Inventory (Terry, Szabo, & Griffiths, 2004), six items added by the investigator, and a demographics section. Results indicate that approximately 20% of triathletes are at risk for exercise addiction, 79% are committed exercisers who exhibit some symptoms of exercise addiction, and 1% are asymptomatic. Results also demonstrate that female triathletes are at greater risk for exercise addiction than male triathletes. Training for longer distance races (e.g., Olympic-, Half-Ironman-, and Ironman-) put triathletes at greater risk for exercise addiction than training for shorter races. No significant association exists between the risk for exercise addiction and either the number of years of participating in the sport or the length of training sessions. However, as the number of weekly training hours or the number of weekly training sessions increases, so does a triathlete's risk for exercise addiction. Results demonstrate that triathletes have a lower than anticipated risk for exercise addiction, yet a higher risk than the general exercising population. Because at-risk triathletes need greater clinical attention, further research should be conducted to help clinicians develop enhanced awareness and appropriate interventions.

No description available.

There were several purposes of this study. The first objective was to examine the correlation between exercise dependence and personality factors in triathletes and regular exercisers. The second purpose of the study was to identify the relationship between exercise dependence and athletic identity in triathletes. The final purpose of the study was to identify a difference in exercise dependence between triathletes and regular exercisers. The study included 122 triathletes and 129 regular athletes that exercised at least 30 minutes per bout at least five times a week and have been doing so for at least the prior three months. All of the participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Exercise Dependence Scale (EDS) and NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). The triathletes additionally completed the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS). Past research has attempted to identify personality traits that correlate with exercise dependence. However, an apparent universal personality trait has not been established for any group of athletes with exercise dependence. The current study was able to identify a significant correlation (p < .05) between the personality trait, Neuroticism, and exercise dependence in both triathletes and regular exercisers. Additionally, a significant relationship (p < .05) between exercise dependence and athletic identity was identified in the triathletes. Findings also indicated a significant difference between triathletes and regular exercisers for exercise dependence. Triathletes displayed significantly more exercise dependent symptomology than regular exercisers. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 1998. Graduate Programme in Kinesiology and Health Science. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-85). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pMQ39203.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1997. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [59-68).

Thesis (M.S.)--Florida State University, 2003. / Advisor: Dr. Lisa Eckel, Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Psychology. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Apr. 7, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2006. / Advisor: Lisa Eckel, Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Psychology. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 18, 2006). Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 89 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Psy. D.)--University of Indianapolis, [2005]. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 41-46). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (Psy. D.)--University of Indianapolis, [2005]. / Includes bibliographical references.

The purposes of this study were to examine the associations between (a) self-objectification, (b) body shame, (c) appearance anxiety, and (d) exercise dependence. Participants (N = 155) completed a demographic questionnaire and a survey packet including the Body Surveillance subscale and Body Shame subscale of the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale, Appearance Anxiety Scale, Eating Attitudes Test 26, and the Exercise Dependence Scale. Correlations were conducted revealing associations between self-objectification, body shame, appearance anxiety, and eating attitudes. Associations were also found between body shame and exercise dependence. Partial correlations were conducting revealing body shame and appearance anxiety mediated the relationship between self-objectification and eating attitudes. Body shame also mediated the relationship between self-objectification and exercise dependence.