The relationship between exercise dependence, cognitive style and personality characteristics in candidates participating in physical education and sports school special talent examination

Abstract

Objectives: It has been suggested that there is a relationship between exercise dependence (ED), perfectionism,self-esteem and some personality characteristics.In the present study, the relations between ED anddysfunctional attitudes, self esteem and personality characteristics were evaluated.Methods: Subjectswere 438 canditates entering special talent examination of Bülent Ecevit University Schoolof Physical Education and Sports, Zonguldak, Turkey. Participants were evaluated with demographic data formprepared by investigators, Exercise Dependence Scale-21 (EDS-21), Dysfunctional Attitude Scale Turkishshort form (DAS-R), Eysenk personality quetionnary revised form (EPQR-A) and Rosenberg Self EsteemScale (RSES).Results: Of the subjects participating in the study, 88 (20.1%) were in dependent (D), 303 (69.2%) in nondependent-symptomatic (NDS) and 47 (10.7%) in non-dependent-asymptomatic (NDA) groups. There wassignificant difference in weekly duration of exercise hours between groups (p = 0.003). There was significantdifference between groups in terms of DAS-R P/A (Dysfunctional Attitude Scale Turkish shortformPerfectionism/achievement) scores. (p = 0.013) In post-hoc Dunn test carried out to determine thesignificance of the difference in DAS-R P/A scores between groups, no significant difference was foundbetween D and NDS. However, there was significant difference between D and NDA and between NDAandNDS (p < 0.05). In multinomial regression model, it was found that when weekly duration exercise increases1 unit in the D, 1.082 unit increase occurs compared to NDA (β=1.082, p = 0.012).Conclusions: It was established that in D, perfectionist attitude was seen at a significantly higher rate thannon dependent groups and duration of exercise was predictive of ED.