Compulsive Exercise in College Students

Compulsive exercise (CE) involves a pathological drive to exercise or control weight (Dittmer, Jacobi, & Voderholzer, 2018). College women who endorsed aspects of CE have been found to exhibit disordered eating, depression, and mood sensitivity (Ackard et al., 2002). This study aims to: 1) characterize CE and physical activity (PA) in a college sample, 2) determine mental health outcomes of CE and PA, and 3) examine the relation between behavioral activation, inhibition, and CE or PA. Results suggest that increased levels of drive and negative affect are associated with CE. However, fewer depressive symptoms are associated with increased PA duration.