Testing fear of COVID-19, difficulties in emotion regulation, state anxiety as predictors of withdrawal effects in individuals with problematic exercise behaviour: a serial mediation model

Abstract

ABSTRACT The issue of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic led to raising concerns about mental health issues. Research showed that changes in daily routines and life circumstances have brought negative feelings like stress and anxiety. Many individuals had to adapt their workout routines to lockdowns and restrictions. Evidence suggests during abstinence periods individuals with exercise addiction may experience withdrawal effects. The present study aimed to explore the serial mediating roles of difficulties in emotion regulation and state anxiety on the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and withdrawal effects in individuals with problematic exercise behaviour. The data (N = 160) was obtained using validated self-report measurements including the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-16, State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety, and Exercise Dependence Scale-21. To test the proposed model, a number of mediation analyses were performed via PROCESS Macro by Hayes for SPSS 27.0. The findings showed that when individuals with problematic exercise behaviour had increased levels of fear of COVID-19, they were likely to have difficulties in emotion regulation and that difficulties led to state anxiety, turning into withdrawal effects s. However, the mediating effect disappeared when controlling for age. The limitations, implications, and recommendations for further studies were discussed.