Compulsive Exercise in College Students

• In Event: Poster Session 10
  In Poster Session: PS 10 Topic - Health, Growth, Injury

Abstract

Compulsive exercise (CE) is the uncontrollable drive to engage in exercise (typically an hour or more) with the intention to prevent some adverse consequence with a psychological burden, such as weight gain (Dittmer, Jacobi, & Voderholzer, 2018). CE has often been studied in clinical eating disorder populations (e.g., Danielsen, Ro, Romild, & Bjornelv, 2016). However, studying CE in non-clinical populations might help us to understand risk factors for the development of eating disorders. One study of non-clinical college females showed that those who endorsed aspects of CE exhibited disordered eating, depression, and mood sensitivity (Ackard et al., 2002). To date, CE has not been studied in the context of trait levels of behavioral activation (i.e., drive and reward), which has been associated with eating disordered behaviors (e.g., Wadeson, Gordon, & Donohue, 2011). Further, research has not examined CE in relation to duration of physical activity (PA) and frequency of CE in a college sample. The aims of the current study are to: 1) characterize CE and PA in a college sample, 2) determine if individuals who engage in more CE or more PA experience poorer mental health, and 3) examine if there is a relation between individual levels of behavioral activation and CE or PA.
Participants were recruited from a mid-sized urban university (n= 704; 78% female; 54% white). CE was measured using item #18 from the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire that asked how many days in the past month respondents exercised in a “driven” or “compulsive” manner to control their weight. Using a 7-day daily diary, PA duration was measured by asking participants how long they exercised daily. Participants also completed the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), Behavioral Activation Scale (BAS), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale to assess affect, motivation, anxiety and depressive symptoms, respectively. Because there were significant gender differences in key study variables, gender was included as a covariate in analyses.
A hierarchical linear regression examining key study variables in relation to CE was significant (F(7,624)=3.08, p=.003; R2=.033). Specifically, more negative affect (b= .10, t(631) = 2.04, p=.042) and higher BAS Drive (b= .09, t(631) = 1.99, p =.047) were significantly associated with higher frequency of CE. A hierarchical linear regression (with gender at step one) examining key study variables in relation to PA duration was also significant (F(7,624)=3.58, p=.001; R2=.039). Specifically, lower levels of depressive symptoms were significantly associated with increased PA duration (b=–.13, t(631) =-2.24, p=.03).
Results suggest that, in a college population, increased levels of drive and more negative affect are associated with potentially unhealthy motivation to exercise. However, fewer depressive symptoms were associated with increased PA duration. Results suggest that although exercise can be healthy, the psychological motivation behind exercise is necessary to consider in this population. Future research might examine the longitudinal effects of CE in non-clinical populations to assess its impact on development of psychopathology.

Authors

• Kaela Harber, Loyola University Chicago
  Presenting Author

• Elizabeth Rea, Loyola University Chicago
  Non-Presenting Author

• Amy Bohnert, Loyola University Chicago
  Non-Presenting Author

• Amy Heard Egbert, Loyola University Chicago
  Non-Presenting Author

• Laura Nicholson, Loyola University Chicago
  Non-Presenting Author