Development and validation of the Exercise Dependence and Elite Athletes Scale

AimsExercise Dependence (EXD) is a clinical condition associated with physical and psychological risks for elite athletes. This paper describes the development and preliminary validation of the Exercise Dependence (EXD) and Elite Athletes Scale (EDEAS).MethodStudy 1 generated 27 preliminary items for the EDEAS based on the perceptions of coaches of elite athletes (n = 86). In Study 2, the initial EDEAS was administered to 234 elite athletes and the responses were factor analyzed.ResultsSix factors emerged: Unhealthy Eating Behavior, Conflict and Dissatisfaction, More Training, Withdrawal, Emotional Difficulties, Continuance Behavior. Item-total correlations for individual subscales and internal reliabilities were acceptable (i.e., α > .60). The final 24-item EDEAS was validated against an alternative measure of EXD, and was shown to be highly correlated.ConclusionThe EDEAS shows acceptable preliminary psychometric properties as a measure of EXD among elite athletes.