Psychological aspects of long-distance running among South African marathon runners

The purpose of this study was to determine why South African
long-distance runners start and continue to run long distances,
what perceived psychological benefits and negative effects they
experience as a result of their involvement in the sport, and
what thoughts and emotions are associated with the runner's high.
Questionnaires were sent to 2 000 1992 Two Oceans Marathon
participants and 777 responded. Results show that South African
long-distance runners start running chiefly for physical fitness
and health reasons, and continue for these reasons as well as
psychological benefit reasons. As a result of their involvement
in the sport, they experience psychological benefits such as a
positive mood, positive self-image and positive mental outlook.
When unable to run, these benefits are reversed. They also
experience negative effects such as relationship problems because
of long-distance running. Many thoughts and emotions are
associated with the runner's high, but most define it as an
euphoric feeling / Art History, Visual Arts & Musicology / M.A. (Psychology)

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:umkn-dsp01.int.unisa.ac.za:10500/16163
Date11 1900
CreatorsSymonds, Genevieve
ContributorsVan Lill, J. B. (Jacobus Burger), 1954-
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
Format1 online resource (iv, 124 leaves)

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