Using running to escape everyday stresses may lead to exercise dependence instead of mental well-being

Recreational running has many benefits for physical and mental health, but some people develop exercise addiction, a form of addiction to physical activity that can lead to health problems. Shockingly, signs of exercise dependence are common among recreational runners.Research published in the forefront of psychology We investigated whether the concept of escapism helps us understand the relationship between running, well-being, and exercise addiction.

“Escape is a common human phenomenon, but little is known about its motivational bases and how it affects experience. psychological consequences From there,” said lead author Dr. Frode Stenseng of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Running for exploration or avoidance?

“Escapism is often defined as ‘an activity, a form of entertainment, etc. that helps you avoid or forget something unpleasant or boring’.”In other words, many of us daily activities It might be interpreted as escapism,” Stensen said. self-awarenessYou ruminate less and feel free from your most pressing or stressful thoughts and emotions. ”

Escapism can bring back perspective. It can also act as a distraction from issues that need to be addressed. The escapism of seeking and adapting to positive experiences is called self-expansion. On the other hand, maladaptive escapism that avoids negative experiences is called self-repression. Effectively run as a search or evasion.

“These two forms of escapism stem from two different mindsets: promoting positive moods or preventing negative moods,” says Stenseng.

Not only do escapist activities used for self-expansion have better effects, but they also have more long-term benefits. Self-restraint, by contrast, tends to suppress positive as well as negative emotions, leading to avoidance.

Self-inhibition associated with exercise dependence

The team recruited 227 people recreation runner, half men and half women, run very differently. They were asked to fill out questionnaires that explored three different aspects of escapism. exercise Dependence: an escapism scale that measures a preference for self-expansion or self-inhibition, an exercise dependence scale, and satisfaction with a life scale designed to measure participants’ subjective well-being.

Scientists have found little overlap between runners who prefer self-expansion and those who prefer a self-inhibited mode of escapism. Self-expansion was positively correlated with happiness, whereas self-inhibition was negatively correlated with happiness. Both self-inhibition and self-extension were associated with exercise dependence, but self-inhibition was much more strongly associated. but both affected the relationship between health status and exercise dependence. Whether or not a person meets the criteria for exercise dependence, a preference for self-expansion is associated with a more positive sense of one’s own well-being.

Dependence on exercise undermines the potential health benefits of exercise, but perceived lower health may be both a cause and a consequence of exercise dependence.

Similarly, experiencing positive self-expansion may be a psychological motivator that promotes exercise dependence.

“More studies using longitudinal study designs are needed to further elucidate the motivational dynamics and outcomes in escapism,” Stenseng said. It enlightens people to understand their own motivations and may be used for therapeutic reasons in individuals striving for maladaptive involvement in activities.”