Protocol - Exercise Dependence Scale

Exercise Dependence Scale-21

Instructions. Using the scale provided below, please complete the following questions as honestly as possible. The questions refer to current exercise beliefs and behaviors that have occurred in the past 3 months. Please place your answer in the blank space provided after each statement.

1. I exercise to avoid feeling irritable._____

2. I exercise despite recurring physical problems._____

3. I continually increase my exercise intensity to achieve the desired effects/benefits._____

4. I am unable to reduce how long I exercise._____

5. I would rather exercise than spend time with family/friends._____

6. I spend a lot of time exercising._____

7. I exercise longer than I intend._____

8. I exercise to avoid feeling anxious._____

9. I exercise when injured._____

10. I continually increase my exercise frequency to achieve the desired effects/benefits._____

11. I am unable to reduce how often I exercise._____

12. I think about exercise when I should be concentrating on school/work._____

13. I spend most of my free time exercising._____

14. I exercise longer than I expect._____

15. I exercise to avoid feeling tense._____

16. I exercise despite persistent physical problems._____

17. I continually increase my exercise duration to achieve the desired effects/benefits._____

18. I am unable to reduce how intense I exercise._____

19. I choose to exercise so that I can get out of spending time with family/friends._____

20. A great deal of my time is spent exercising.____

21. I exercise longer than I plan._____

Scoring:

The proposed scoring procedure for the Exercise Dependence Scale is computer based, which allows for immediate and accurate scoring. The computer scoring of the Exercise Dependence Scale is based on the SPSS (Statistic Package for the Social Sciences). A syntax file (see Supplmental Information for Mental Health Research Collections) has been developed by the authors that enables immediate feedback to the Exercise Dependence Scale responses once the items are entered into SPSS. The syntax enables:

1. Computing a total and subscale mean scores for Exercise Dependence Scale-21. A higher score indicates more exercise-dependent symptoms.

2. Categorizing participants into either at-risk for exercise dependent, nondependent-symptomatic, or nondependent-asymptomatic groups. The categorization into one of the three groups is generated by a scoring manual that consists of flowchart decision rules in which items or combinations or items determine if an individual would be classified in the dependent, symptomatic, or asymptomatic range on each of the 7 DSM IV criteria. Individuals who are classified into the dependent range on 3 or more of the DSM criteria are classified as exercise dependence. The dependent range is operationalized as indicating a score of 5 or 6 for that item. Individuals who scored in the 3 to 4 range are classified as symptomatic. These individuals may theoretically be considered at-risk for exercise dependence. Finally, individuals who score in the 1-2 range are classified as asymptomatic.