Exercise dependence and social physique anxiety in competitive and non‐competitive runners

Abstract

This study examined differences in exercise dependence and social physique anxiety between competitive and non‐competitive runners. One hundred and eighty four distance runners were assigned to four groups on the basis of their competitive status and sex. Each completed the Exercise Dependence Scale (EDS), the Running Addiction Scale (RAS), and the Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS). The competitive runners scored significantly higher on the EDS and the RAS than the non‐competitive runners. Also, a higher proportion of the competitive runners were classified as being at‐risk for exercise dependence compared to the noncompetitive runners. However, there were no significant between‐group differences in SPAS scores and no significant relationships between SPAS scores and either EDS or RAS scores. Also, there were no significant differences between males and females. These results suggest that competitive runners are more likely to exhibit symptoms of exercise dependence than non‐competitive runners but do not exhibit more social physique anxiety