Exercise dependence in Spanish users of fitness centres: differences according to gender, age and practiced activities

The objective of this study was to analyse the differences in exercise dependence according to gender, age and physical activities practiced. To achieve this goal, a sample of 531 users of fitness centres (51.4% men and 48.6% women) aged between 16 and 60 (M= 29.62, SD= 8.97) was used. The Spanish version of the Exercise Dependence Scale-Revised (EDS-R), which evaluates seven dependence symptoms giving a global indicator, was applied. The results showed that men scored significantly higher in the different dependence symptoms than women. Regarding age, there were practically no significant differences between the age groups of 16-25 and 26-33, but there were differences between these two groups and the group of 34-60 year olds, showing the latter to have a lower score in exercise dependence than the first two. In general, the exercise dependence score in directed activities was significantly lower than in semi-directed and free activities. The results have allowed the identification of some risk characteristics on which intervention should be focused.