Abstract
Long-distance running is a demanding sport and runners use a variety of coping strategies to deal with these demands. In this study, we investigated running-related demands, resources, and recovery and, as an indicator of well-being, vigor. Specifically, following the Demand-Induced Strain Compensation Recovery Model, we tested to what degree the relation between running-related demands and vigor was moderated by two coping strategies available in running: running-related resources (e.g., training control, running mate/coach support) and running-related recovery (i.e., detachment from running). Demands, resources, recovery, and vigor were all surveyed across three separate dimensions (i.e., physical, cognitive, emotional) in a cross-sectional sample of 623 recreational long-distance runners. Hierarchical regression analyses were used to determine to what degree the demands-vigor relation was moderated by resources and recovery. Evidence for moderations was found for the cognitive and emotional dimensions of vigor, revealing four significant moderating effects of resources or recovery on the demands-vigor relation. Three of these effects involved emotional resources or recovery. Contrary to expectations, results also showed that in two cases higher recovery was associated with lower vigor, rather than higher, when runners experienced high demands. In all, we found modest support for the role of resources and recovery in altering the nature of the demands-vigor relation in recreational long-distance runners. This study highlights the importance of the emotional dimension of demands, resources, and recovery, as those facets were most important in predicting vigor in runners. Practical implications are addressed with regard to emotional resources and recovery for long-distance runners.
Highlights
BackgroundRecreational running is one of the most popular contemporary sports across the globe (Hulteen et al 2017; Scheerder et al.2015)
Noteworthy findings were detected with regard to the control variables: higher training distance was associated with higher scores on all dimensions of vigor, having a job or study was associated with lower cognitive liveliness, and being female was associated with higher levels of physical strength
With regard to our main variables, scores on emotional demands were relatively low compared to other demands and all scores on recovery were noticeably lower than scores on resources
Summary
Recreational running is one of the most popular contemporary sports across the globe (Hulteen et al 2017; Scheerder et al.2015) It brings about many positive effects (Shipway and Holloway 2013; Walter et al 2013), including higher wellbeing (Grunseit et al 2017; Nezlek et al 2018; Evans et al 2017), lower mortality risk (Lee et al 2014; Pedisic et al 2019), and higher life satisfaction (Sato et al 2015). The possibility of positive and negative outcomes of running partially depends on unique individual characteristics, such as running motivation (Shipway and Holloway 2013). In addition to these characteristics, we propose in this paper that certain running-specific conditions are related to well-being and health outcomes, too
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