Analyzing the Black Box of High-Risk Individuals for Exercise Addiction A Mixed-Method Approach

The aim of this mixed-method study was to examine situational and personal factors contributing to risk of exercise addiction (EA). Among 164 participants surveyed using the Exercise Dependence Scale, a total of 43 individuals were identified as being at high risk of EA. Nine of these 43 high-risk individuals participated in a qualitative interview. The interview identified a prototype of high-risk individuals, whereby physical activity behavior is influenced by family, social environment, childhood experiences, and certain motives. Additionally, two subtypes of high-risk individuals were identified, namely, the calm and the restless types, based on emotional differences. Stress was found to be a catalyst for increased physical activity, which was used as a coping mechanism. Although this study contributes to understanding the etiology of EA, it should be noted that individual differences in developing EA make quantitative or qualitative assessments limited. Therefore, in addition to identifying high-risk persons, individual assessments are necessary.