- New research looks at the role of escapism, a powerful motivator in exercise addiction.
- According to this study, people are more likely to dislike their lives when they’re running away than when they’re heading towards something.
- Such people are at increased risk of developing exercise addiction or exercise addiction. Addiction.
New research suggests that a person’s motivation to run for recreation or exercise may be an important factor in whether they develop exercise addiction.
This study explored the role of escapism in running and found that people who used running to escape life’s problems were more likely to become unhealthy exercise addicts.
Escapism as a powerful motivator has been explored in other contexts dating back to the 19th century.
The research team led by Dr. Frode Stensen The Norwegian Institute of Science and Technology recruited 227 recreational runners through a social media site.
Participants were evenly split by gender and had a wide variety of running habits and styles. Those who reported running regularly were sent a survey questionnaire to complete.
A questionnaire assessed each participant’s role of escapism in running, the extent to which they were dependent or not dependent on this form of exercise, and their general level of life satisfaction.
This research Frontiers of psychology.
Running and exercising are generally considered to be good for your health, but for some people they are.
Ah 1997 study About 25% of recreational runners are addicted to this activity, and about 50% of marathon runners feel dependent on the sport.
Ah Research in 2021 shows some signs of exercise addiction in athletes.
- undertake an exaggerated amount of momentum
- Inability to control how much you participate in your chosen form of exercise
- experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop exercising
- Conflicts with family and friends over exercise.
“escapism” defined “As an escape from reality and the mundane, a habitual shift of the mind to purely imaginative activities and pastimes.”
But not all escapism is the same.Dr. Stensen said medical news today He and his collaborators have been exploring the phenomenon of escapism for over a decade.
“We have repeatedly found that escapism comes in two forms: one that fosters positive emotions by engaging in an activity (self-augmentation), and the other that It is the suppression of disturbing thoughts and emotions through activities (self-restraint).
“Running is a very popular activity,” says Dr. Stenseng.
The study found that self-enhancing escapism was associated with positive well-being, and self-limiting escapism was associated with poor well-being.
Dr. Freimuth, who was not involved in the current study, agrees with the author’s idea that there are two types of escapism.[d]It is very interesting to distinguish between two types of motives, the more pleasurable and the escapist. ”
She pointed out that self-limiting escapes are often associated with substance and activity dependence.
This research suggests that self-limiting escapism fosters negative feelings about one’s life, which can further lead to exercise dependence.
Dr. Frymus said: Such as ignoring responsibility and increasing physical activity that leads to injury.”
MNT We asked Dr. Stenseng how to identify running motivations, specifically whether self-expanding or inhibitory escapism is at work.
“One good question to ask yourself is, do you feel better or embarrassed after working out?” he replied.
“Running with a self-limiting mindset tends to leave you feeling embarrassed later rather than in a high mood,” explains Dr. Stensen.
Given that exercise addiction can be a response to serious life problems, solving it means facing these problems as best you can.
“Anytime a person uses a substance or action to escape something in life,” Dr. Freimus said. stress, anxietyAnd so on, are now beginning to question that reality for them. And take steps to reduce it. ”
In situations where a person is trying to deal with an insolvable problem such as grief or an insurmountable obstacle, Dr. Freimus suggests:[p]Perhaps the most effective way is to learn how to tolerate unpleasant emotions without doing anything. ”
