1 Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark , Odense C, Denmark.
2 International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University , Nottingham, United Kingdom.
J Behav Addict. 2018 Mar 1;7(1):117-125. doi: 10.1556/2006.7.2018.01. Epub 2018 Feb 7.
Background Behavioral addictions often onset in adolescence and increase the risk of psychological and social problems later in life. The core symptoms of addiction are tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, lack of control, and compulsive occupation with the behavior. Psychometrically validated tools are required for detection and early intervention. Adolescent screening instruments exist for several behavioral addictions including gambling and video gaming addiction but not for exercise addiction. Given recent empirical and clinical evidence that a minority of teenagers appear to be experiencing exercise addiction, a psychometrically robust screening instrument is required. Aims The aim of this study was to develop and test the psychometric properties of a youth version of the Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI) - a robust screening instrument that has been used across different countries and cultures - and to assess the prevalence of exercise addiction and associated disturbed eating. Methods A cross-sectional survey was administered to three high-risk samples (n = 471) aged 11-20 years (mean age: 16.3 years): sport school students, fitness center attendees, and patients with eating disorder diagnoses. A youth version of the EAI (EAI-Y) was developed and distributed. Participants were also screened for disordered eating with the SCOFF Questionnaire. Results Overall, the EAI-Y demonstrated good reliability and construct validity. The prevalence rate of exercise addiction was 4.0% in school athletes, 8.7% in fitness attendees, and 21% in patients with eating disorders. Exercise addiction was associated with feelings of guilt when not exercising, ignoring pain and injury, and higher levels of body dissatisfaction.
行为成瘾通常在青少年时期开始，并增加日后出现心理和社会问题的风险。成瘾的核心症状包括耐受性、戒断症状、缺乏控制和对行为的强迫性占据。需要经过心理计量学验证的工具来进行检测和早期干预。有针对几种行为成瘾（包括赌博和视频游戏成瘾）的青少年筛查工具，但没有针对运动成瘾的工具。鉴于最近出现的一些青少年似乎存在运动成瘾的经验和临床证据，需要一种具有良好心理计量学特性的筛查工具。
本研究旨在开发和测试运动成瘾量表（Exercise Addiction Inventory，EAI）的青少年版本的心理计量学特性，该量表是一种经过不同国家和文化验证的可靠筛查工具，并评估运动成瘾和相关饮食障碍的患病率。
对三个高风险样本（n=471）进行横断面调查，年龄在 11-20 岁之间（平均年龄：16.3 岁）：体育学校学生、健身中心参与者和饮食障碍诊断患者。开发并分发了 EAI 的青少年版本（EAI-Y）。参与者还使用 SCOFF 问卷进行饮食障碍筛查。
总体而言，EAI-Y 具有良好的信度和构念效度。运动成瘾的患病率在学校运动员中为 4.0%，在健身参与者中为 8.7%，在饮食障碍患者中为 21%。运动成瘾与不运动时的内疚感、忽视疼痛和伤害以及更高的身体不满有关。
