Passion moderates the relationship between exercise identity and compulsive exercise

There remains limited understanding and mixed results around predictors of compulsive exercise, especially outside of eating disorder populations and settings. Research is also limited by operationalisation of compulsive exercise as a unidimensional construct, despite evidence that it is best unders...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Suzanne M. Cosh, Natasha M. Loi, Dominic G. McNeil
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co. Ltd. 2023-12-01
Series:Asian Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667239123000072
_version_ 1797372869530877952
author Suzanne M. Cosh
Natasha M. Loi
Dominic G. McNeil
author_facet Suzanne M. Cosh
Natasha M. Loi
Dominic G. McNeil
author_sort Suzanne M. Cosh
collection DOAJ
description There remains limited understanding and mixed results around predictors of compulsive exercise, especially outside of eating disorder populations and settings. Research is also limited by operationalisation of compulsive exercise as a unidimensional construct, despite evidence that it is best understood and examined as multi-dimensional. Given that compulsive exercise is also observed in the general exercise population, increased understanding around predictors of compulsive exercise is needed. This study examined the relationship between dimensions of compulsive exercise (Compulsive Exercise Test) with obsessive and harmonious passion (the Passion Scale) and exercise identity (the Exercise Identity Scale) in a sample of N = 1184 Australian general exercisers. Correlation, regression and moderation analyses indicated that exercise identity was associated with all dimensions of compulsive exercise, although strength and direction of relationships varied. Harmonious passion was related to several dimensions of compulsive exercise and also moderated relationships between identity with weight-control exercise, mood improvement and lack of exercise enjoyment, whereas obsessive passion moderated the relationship between identity and lack of exercise enjoyment only. Results highlight that compulsive exercise dimensions have nuanced relationships with other variables and that examination of dimensions can increase understanding around compulsive exercise. Harmonious passion predicted more aspects of compulsive exercise than obsessive passion. Individuals with high exercise identity, and those with low harmonious passion may be more at risk of poor outcomes including compulsive exercise pathology and other related outcomes.
first_indexed 2024-03-08T18:42:03Z
format Article
id doaj.art-7d35f9a43113430192b12de42c316552
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2667-2391
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-08T18:42:03Z
publishDate 2023-12-01
publisher KeAi Communications Co. Ltd.
record_format Article
series Asian Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
spelling doaj.art-7d35f9a43113430192b12de42c3165522023-12-29T04:46:22ZengKeAi Communications Co. Ltd.Asian Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology2667-23912023-12-0133184191Passion moderates the relationship between exercise identity and compulsive exerciseSuzanne M. Cosh0Natasha M. Loi1Dominic G. McNeil2School of Psychology, University of New England, NSW, Australia; Corresponding author., +612 6773 2073, School of Psychology, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2351School of Psychology, University of New England, NSW, AustraliaInstitute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University, Victoria, AustraliaThere remains limited understanding and mixed results around predictors of compulsive exercise, especially outside of eating disorder populations and settings. Research is also limited by operationalisation of compulsive exercise as a unidimensional construct, despite evidence that it is best understood and examined as multi-dimensional. Given that compulsive exercise is also observed in the general exercise population, increased understanding around predictors of compulsive exercise is needed. This study examined the relationship between dimensions of compulsive exercise (Compulsive Exercise Test) with obsessive and harmonious passion (the Passion Scale) and exercise identity (the Exercise Identity Scale) in a sample of N = 1184 Australian general exercisers. Correlation, regression and moderation analyses indicated that exercise identity was associated with all dimensions of compulsive exercise, although strength and direction of relationships varied. Harmonious passion was related to several dimensions of compulsive exercise and also moderated relationships between identity with weight-control exercise, mood improvement and lack of exercise enjoyment, whereas obsessive passion moderated the relationship between identity and lack of exercise enjoyment only. Results highlight that compulsive exercise dimensions have nuanced relationships with other variables and that examination of dimensions can increase understanding around compulsive exercise. Harmonious passion predicted more aspects of compulsive exercise than obsessive passion. Individuals with high exercise identity, and those with low harmonious passion may be more at risk of poor outcomes including compulsive exercise pathology and other related outcomes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667239123000072excessive exercisepathological exercisedisordered eatingwellbeingmental healthrecreational exerciser
spellingShingle Suzanne M. Cosh
Natasha M. Loi
Dominic G. McNeil
Passion moderates the relationship between exercise identity and compulsive exercise
Asian Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
excessive exercise
pathological exercise
disordered eating
wellbeing
mental health
recreational exerciser
title Passion moderates the relationship between exercise identity and compulsive exercise
title_full Passion moderates the relationship between exercise identity and compulsive exercise
title_fullStr Passion moderates the relationship between exercise identity and compulsive exercise
title_full_unstemmed Passion moderates the relationship between exercise identity and compulsive exercise
title_short Passion moderates the relationship between exercise identity and compulsive exercise
title_sort passion moderates the relationship between exercise identity and compulsive exercise
topic excessive exercise
pathological exercise
disordered eating
wellbeing
mental health
recreational exerciser
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667239123000072
work_keys_str_mv AT suzannemcosh passionmoderatestherelationshipbetweenexerciseidentityandcompulsiveexercise
AT natashamloi passionmoderatestherelationshipbetweenexerciseidentityandcompulsiveexercise
AT dominicgmcneil passionmoderatestherelationshipbetweenexerciseidentityandcompulsiveexercise