The mediating role of impulsiveness in the relationship between exercise addiction, muscle dysmorphia and other addictions
Exercise Addiction (EA) and Muscle Dysmorphia (MD) have difficulties in common, such as impulse control, an important antecedent of addictions. Understanding how these variables are related to impulsivity and other addictions is essential for prevention and intervention. The objectives were: to explore the relationship between EA, MD, and impulsiveness and other addictions, to study the predictive role of impulsiveness in EA and MD, and to analyze the possible mediating role of impulsiveness in the relationship between addictions, and EA and MD. The sample is made up of 315 participants, 183 of them women (58.1%), aged between 18 and 30 years (M = 21.83, SD = 3.28). Among the novel results, it is worth noting the significant differences between men and women in most addictions but not in impulsivity, the significant relationships between EA and impulsivity, alcohol abuse/dependence, substance addiction, pathological gambling, compulsive spending, and eating disorders, as well as the relationships between MD and impulsivity and all the addictions, except for video game and sex addiction. Additionally, the predictive role of impulsivity on MD but not on EA is highlighted, as well as the mediating role of impulsivity between some of the addictions and EA and MD. Understanding these relationships and adopting a gender perspective is crucial for the prevention of addictions and muscle dysmorphia.
Keywords:
Exercise addiction, muscle dysmorphia, addictions, behavioral addictions, impulsiveness.