Re-evaluating the Exercise Dependence Scale-Revised and the prevalence of exercise dependence in Sweden

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of exercise dependence, as well as conducting a re-evaluation of the Exercise Dependence Scale-Revised (EDS-R) through a confirmatory factor analysis. The study was based on three Swedish data collections (N = 1101), collected through online questionnaires answered by physically active adults. The study found a prevalence of exercise dependence between 3.6-9%, primary exercise dependence between 1.7-2.2%, and a prevalence of primary exercise dependence with anxiety management as motivation of 1.8% across the three data-collections. The confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the hypothesized 21-item 7-factor structure of the EDS-R contributed to a tolerable fit of data with good psychometric properties, although a poor factor loading of item 19 in the factor ‘Reduction in other activities’ was found. This study concludes that the EDS-R is a valid measurement of exercise dependence, but further research is needed to evaluate the relation between primary exercise dependence and anxiety management, as well as the construct validity of the individual items.