Methodological and Conceptual Limitations in Exercise Addiction Research.
The aim of this brief analytical review is to highlight and disentangle research dilemmas in the field of exercise addiction. Research examining exercise addiction is primarily based on self-reports, obtained by questionnaires (incorporating psychometrically validated instruments), and interviews, which provide a range of risk scores rather than diagnosis. Survey methodology indicates that the prevalence of risk for exercise addiction is approximately 3 percent among the exercising population. Several studies have reported a substantially greater prevalence of risk for exercise addiction in elite athletes compared to those who exercise for leisure. However, elite athletes may assign a different interpretation to the assessment tools than leisure exercisers. The present paper examines the: 1) discrepancies in the classification of exercise addiction; 2) inconsistent reporting of exercise addiction prevalence; and 3) varied interpretation of exercise addiction diagnostic tools. It is concluded that there is the need for consistent terminology, to follow-up results derived from exercise addiction instruments with interviews, and to follow a theory-driven rationale in this area of research.
Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
Attila
A
Szabo
Psychology Division, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Mark D
MD
Griffiths
Department of Physical Education, Sport & Human Movement, Autonomous University of Madrid, Campus Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain.
Ricardo
R
de La Vega Marcos
Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
Barbara
B
Mervó
Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
Zsolt
Z
Demetrovics
D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods*; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D012107:Research Design; D013178:Sports Medicine / Q000379:methods; D009626:Terminology as Topic
athlete; behavioral addiction; commitment to exercise; exerciser; methodology