PSYCHOMETRIC EVALUATION OF THE RUNNING ADDICTION SCALE

Abstract

1423 The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the psychometrics of the Running Addiction Scale (RAS) developed by Rudy and Estok (1989). The sample consisted of 269 runners from various settings and a subset of 70 runners who indicated that they had run races longer than half-marathons. All runners received a packet consisting of the RAS, the Trait-Anxiety scale (Spielberger, Gorsuch, Lushene, Vagg, & Jacobs, 1983), and questions regarding running habits and self-rated addiction. Internal consistency of the RAS was assessed by examining item-total correlation and Cronbach's alpha. All but one item correlated with the total score of the RAS. Cronbach's alpha of the RAS was .72. Significant relationships were found between scores on the RAS and scores on the Trait-Anxiety scale for the sample of all runners (r = .25, p < .05) and the subset of long-distance runners (r = .50, p < .05). Significant relationships (p < .05) were found between scores on the RAS and scores on specific running habits questions and self-rated addiction. Higher running addiction scores were associated with higher average number of miles run per week, higher average number of hours run per week, and higher self-rated addiction scores for the sample of all runners and the subset of long-distance runners. Test-retest reliability, using a two-week interval (n = 45), was r = .81, p < .05. The RAS was shown to be a valid and reliable tool.