The relationship between exercise and anxiety, obsessive-compulsiveness, and narcissism

Regular physical activity is considered an important preventative health be havior and contributes many physical and psychological benefits (ICEFH Cons ensus Statement, 1989). However, when too intense, it can be maladaptive an d associated with such psychological characteristics as anxiety, obsessive- compulsiveness, and narcissism (Davis, 1990a; Morgan, 1976; Yates, 1991). A total of 210 research participants completed: the Trait Anxiety Scale of t he State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Scal e, the Narcissistic Personality Inventory, the Commitment to Exercise Scale , and the Frequency of Physical Activity Form. Results of the simultaneous linear multiple regression analyses overall supported the hypotheses. Anxie ty and obsessive-compulsiveness were related to commitment to exercise. Nar cissism was related to physical activity. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. Ai l rights reserved.