Links Among Eating Disorder Characteristics, Exercise Patterns, and Psychological Attributes in College Students

Bonnie J Brehm,John J Steffen

doi:10.1177/2158244013502985

Bonnie J Brehm, John J Steffen

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244013502985

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Abstract

This study examined associations among eating disorder characteristics, excessive exercise, and selected psychological attributes in college students ( N = 499). Male and female participants were recruited from university psychology courses and administered the Obligatory Exercise Questionnaire (OEQ), Mental Health Inventory, Eating Self-Efficacy Scale, Revised Restraint Scale, and Eating Disorder Inventory. Results confirmed the multidimensionality of excessive exercise for both males and females. Profiles of male and female exercisers were developed based on the clustering of scores on the OEQ’s factor analytically derived subscales. Specific qualitative aspects of exercise (e.g., emotionality and obsession), rather than the quantity of exercise, were found to be associated with eating disorder traits and, for some groups, psychological distress (PD). For other groups, such as female excessive exercisers, exercise seems to act as a coping mechanism, thereby lessening PD and enhancing well-being.

Highlights

Excessive exercise has been studied by many investigators over the past two decades, consensus on its definition, diagnostic criteria, or etiology has not been reached (Johnston, Reilly, & Kremer, 2011)
Using the same method of typing exercisers based on clustering Obligatory Exercise Questionnaire (OEQ) scores, the aims of the present study were (a) to determine if excessive exercise was related to eating disorder and psychological characteristics in college men, in a way similar to that found among women and (b) to document additional psychological characteristics of eating disorder–linked exercise in both men and women
The first aim of this study was to determine if excessive exercise was related to eating disorder and psychological characteristics in men, in a way similar to that found among women

Summary

Introduction

Excessive exercise has been studied by many investigators over the past two decades, consensus on its definition, diagnostic criteria, or etiology has not been reached (Johnston, Reilly, & Kremer, 2011). While Davis and colleagues (Davis et al, 1993) were the first to examine the relations between exercising and specific psychological variables among men and women, the majority of research that followed this seminal study has focused on the coexistence of exercising and eating- or weight-related variables among female participants only. The results of such studies that are limited to women may not be generalized to men. Using the same method of typing exercisers based on clustering OEQ scores, the aims of the present study were (a) to determine if excessive exercise was related to eating disorder and psychological characteristics in college men, in a way similar to that found among women and (b) to document additional psychological characteristics of eating disorder–linked exercise in both men and women

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Discussion

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