title: Unraveling exercise addiction: the role of narcissism and self-esteem.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the risk of exercise addiction (EA) in fitness clubs and to identify possible factors in the development of the disorder. The Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI), the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI), and the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (SEI) were administered to a sample of 150 consecutive gym attenders recruited in fitness centers. Based on EAI total score, high EA risk group (HEA n = 51) and a low EA risk group (LEA n = 69) were identified. HEA reported significantly higher total score (mean = 20.2 versus 14.6) on the NPI scale and lower total score (mean = 32.2 versus 36.4) on the SEI scale than LEA. A stepwise regression analysis indicated that only narcissism and self-esteem total scores (F = 5.66; df = 2; P = 0.006) were good predictors of days per week exercise. The present study confirms the direct and combined role of both labile self-esteem and high narcissism in the development of exercise addiction as predictive factors towards the risk of addiction. Multidisciplinary trained health care providers (physiatrists, psychologists, and psychiatrists) should carefully identify potential overexercise conditions in order to prevent the potential risk of exercise addiction.
authors.affiliation: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8789-1680
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.affiliation: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6051-8309
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Quattrone
authors.affiliation: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2359-342X
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scimeca
authors.affiliation: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cicciarelli
authors.affiliation: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo Maria
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.affiliation: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pandolfo
authors.affiliation: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Rocco Antonio
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9112-4580
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Zoccali
authors.affiliation: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria Anna
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7271-6989
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Muscatello