Empirically Defining Healthy and Maladaptive Exercise: A Nomological Network Approach
Graduation Year
2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree
Ph.D.
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Degree Granting Department
Psychology
Major Professor
Diana Rancourt, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Jack Darkes, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Marcus Kilpatrick, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Jon Rottenberg, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Kristen Salomon, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Kristen Salomon, Ph.D.
Keywords
Exercise Motivation, Healthy Exercise, Maladaptive Exercise, Network Analysis
Abstract
Exercise is generally considered to be healthy and adaptive; however, for some individuals, engagement in exercise is maladaptive and can damage both physical and mental health. Currently, research regarding healthy and maladaptive exercise is siloed, and factors that may result in exercise being maladaptive are unclear. This gap in the research is fueled by the incomplete definitions of what constitutes “healthy” as compared to “maladaptive” exercise behavior. To address this gap, the current study aimed to develop empirical definitions of healthy and maladaptive exercise using a nomological network approach. Theoretically and empirically supported facets of exercise (e.g., frequency, motivation) were assessed using network analytic techniques to examine which factors of exercise may be characteristic of healthy and/or maladaptive exercise. It was hypothesized that the network analysis would yield two distinct clusters: one representing “healthy exercise,” and one representing “maladaptive exercise.” Inconsistent with hypotheses, three clusters emerged: one cluster representing intrinsic motivation, one representing extrinsic motivation, and one comprising exercise frequency, intensity, and identity. Structural equation modeling yielded the best model fit when the psychosocial outcomes were regressed on the motivational latent variables directly, as opposed to through the behavior/identity latent variable. The intrinsic latent variable was positively associated with greater healthy and maladaptive exercise behavior, while the extrinsic latent variable was associated with less healthy exercise, more maladaptive exercise, poorer mental health, and worse subjective wellbeing. Affiliation exercise motivation was associated with better mental health and functioning and less maladaptive exercise, suggesting that this motivation may be a proxy for social support among college students. Findings suggest that the cognitive components of exercise (i.e., motivations) are directly associated with a wide array of psychosocial outcomes beyond exercise behavior. Preventative interventions aimed at decreasing maladaptive exercise may benefit from targeting individuals’ extrinsic exercise motivations. Providers using exercise as a behavioral intervention strategy should assess clients’ exercise motivations prior to and during the course of an exercise-based intervention.
Scholar Commons Citation
Staples, Cody B., "Empirically Defining Healthy and Maladaptive Exercise: A Nomological Network Approach" (2024). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/11154
