Relationships among Exercise Dependence, Commitment, Identity

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to adopt the commitment and identity perspectives to examine the relationship between exercise dependence and exercise behavior. Two hundred and eighty-two regular exercisers, aged from 18 to 55 years (34.69±9.66) were participated in this study. All the subjects were attended to Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (LTEQ), Exercise Commitment Scale (ECS), Exercise Identity Scale (EIS) and Exercise Dependence Scale-Revised (EDS-R). Results of this research showed that exercise dependence correlated with exercise commitment and identity. In addition, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis found both exercise identity and have-to-commitment directly and indirectly predicted exercise dependence and vigorous exercise behavior. However, want-to-commitment failed to predict dependence and exercise behavior. Moreover, risk-dependence exercisers had higher vigorous exercise behavior than non-dependence symptomatic and non-dependence asymptomatic exercisers. This study concludes that both exercise identity and exercise commitment have direct and indirect influence on exercise dependence and exercise behavior. Additionally, exercise dependence may cause negative effect on exercisers. Therefore, exercise instructors and professionals need to deeply understand the antecedents and related variables of exercise dependence in order to develop a better exercise program and achieve better effects of exercise.