Athletic identity, compulsive exercise and eating psychopathology in long-distance runners.
Having a high athletic identity is thought to increase vulnerability for compulsive exercise and Eating Disorder (ED) psychopathology. This study examined whether there is an association between athletic identity and levels of compulsive exercise and ED psychopathology in long-distance runners. A sample of 501 long-distance runners completed the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS), Compulsive Exercise Test (CET) and Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (EDEQ). There was a significant positive association between participants' AIMS and total CET scores (moderate effect size; r=0.34 for males and 0.33 for females). BMI did not influence the relationship between AIMS and CET scores in males. However, for females, AIMS scores were positively associated with levels of Weight Control Exercise when covarying for BMI (small to moderate effect size, r=0.22). No significant associations with EDEQ scores were found (negligible to small effect sizes; r=0.06 for males and r=0.14 for females). Following replication, coaches might need to be vigilant to the welfare of endurance runners that have a strong athletic identity, since this could be linked to them exercising compulsively. Future work should examine whether having a strong athletic identity predicts ED psychopathology when this identity is challenged (e.g., due to injury).
Section of Eating Disorders, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: robert.turton@kcl.ac.uk.
Robert
R
Turton
Loughborough University Centre for Research into Eating Disorders (LUCRED), Loughborough University (SSEHS), United Kingdom. Electronic address: H.Goodwin@lboro.ac.uk.
Huw
H
Goodwin
WMG & Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, United Kingdom; University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry CV2 2DX, United Kingdom. Electronic address: C.Meyer@warwick.ac.uk.
Caroline
C
Meyer
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D056352:Athletes / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012420:Running / Q000523:psychology*; D012933:Social Identification; D055815:Young Adult
Athletic identity; Compulsive exercise; Eating disorders; Long-distance runners