Abstract
Exercise addiction occurs when a person engages in excessive physical activity until they lose control. Among individuals attending fitness centers, the risk of developing exercise addiction has been estimated to be close to 10%. The objective of this study was to determine whether exercise addiction may be an antecedent of satisfaction with the service received and/or of the intention of continuing to partake in leisure-time physical activity at fitness centers in a direct or indirect manner. A total of 361 individuals (29.05 ± 11.40 years old) who were physically active at Spanish fitness centers were asked to respond to a questionnaire on exercise addiction, satisfaction with the sports service, and their intention to continue to engage in physical activity. A multi-group analysis was conducted to check for differences in relationships by sex. The results show the relationships between addiction, satisfaction, and intention to continue physical activity. The standardized values display differences between men and women, with women exhibiting the highest values for the relationships between addiction and the rest of the constructs. Satisfaction with the sports service is a mediator in the relationship between exercise addiction and intention to engage in leisure-time physical activity.
Highlights
Physical exercise is one of the main activities carried out in leisure time [1]
The intention to partake in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) yielded a mean value higher than that of satisfaction with the sports and fitness service received (Table 2)
Three hypotheses were formulated: H1, addiction to physical exercise among fitness center users is an antecedent of satisfaction with the sports service and with the physical activity performed; H2, exercise addiction is a precursor to the intention to partake in LTPA; H3, satisfaction with the physical activity performed and with the sports service can be an antecedent of the intention to partake in LTPA
Summary
Physical exercise is one of the main activities carried out in leisure time (leisure-time physical activity, LTPA) [1]. In Europe, 54% of the population reports playing sports or doing some kind of physical activity, with 40% doing so regularly or somewhat regularly [2]. The European Commission study finds that three out of ten European citizens are members of an institution where they exercise, with 11% belonging to a fitness center. A study conducted in the 28 countries of the European Union, in addition to Norway, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, and Ukraine, states that 62.2 million people report being members of a fitness club [3]. When exercise is taken in excess, it can become addictive and cause physical and psychological issues [4]. The concept of exercise addiction refers to the need for significant amounts of exercise to the extent that the individual loses control over their activity [5]
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