HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bamber, D Articles by Carroll, D Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bamber, D Articles by Carroll, D Topic Collections Relevant Article

"It's exercise or nothing": a qualitative analysis of exercise dependence

¹ School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
² Department of Clinical Psychology, Rotherham General Hospital, Moorgate Road, Rotherham S60 2UD, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to: D Bamber, Developmental Psychiatry Section, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18b Trumpington Road, Cambridge CB2 2AH, UK djb69{at}cam.ac.uk

Objectives—To explore, using qualitative methods, the concept of exercise dependence. Semistructured interviews were undertaken with subjects screened for exercise dependence and eating disorders.

Methods—Female exercisers, four in each case, were allocated a priori to four groups: primary exercise dependent; secondary exercise dependent, where there was a coincidence of exercise dependence and an eating disorder; eating disordered; control, where there was no evidence of either exercise dependence or eating disorder. They were asked about their exercise and eating attitudes and behaviour, as well as about any history of psychological distress. Their narratives were taped, transcribed, and analysed from a social constructionist perspective using QSR NUD*IST.

Results—Participants classified as primary exercise dependent either showed no evidence of exercise dependent attitudes and behaviour or, if they exhibited features of exercise dependence, displayed symptoms of an eating disorder. Only the latter reported a history of psychological distress, similar to that exhibited by women classified as secondary exercise dependent or eating disordered. For secondary exercise dependent and eating disordered women, as well as for controls, the narratives largely confirmed the a priori classification.

Conclusions—Where exercise dependence was manifest, it was always in the context of an eating disorder, and it was this co-morbidity, in addition to eating disorders per se, that was associated with psychological distress. As such, these qualitative data support the concept of secondary, but not primary, exercise dependence.

Key Words: exercise dependence; eating disorders; psychological distress; anorexia; bulimia

Relevant Article

Commentary

Nanette Mutrie
Br. J. Sports Med. 2000 34: 430. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Graham, J. Kremer, and G. Wheeler Physical Exercise and Psychological Well-being among People with Chronic Illness and Disability: A Grounded Approach J Health Psychol, May 1, 2008; 13(4): 447 - 458. [Abstract] [PDF]

				E. Dunning and I. Waddington Sport as a Drug and Drugs in Sport: Some Exploratory Comments International Review for the Sociology of Sport, September 1, 2003; 38(3): 351 - 368. [Abstract] [PDF]