A qualitative exploration of narratives among problematic exercise experiences

Sicilia, Á, Alcaraz-Ibáñez, M, Szabo, A and Griffiths, MD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-6524, 2026. A qualitative exploration of narratives among problematic exercise experiences. Journal of Behavioral Addictions. ISSN 2062-5871

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Abstract

Background and Aims
Exercise is recognized as essential for health, but exercise addiction remains a lesser-known phenomenon. Unlike substance addictions, excessive exercise is often celebrated, making it difficult to distinguish between dedication and compulsion. To understand what exercisers perceive as problematic within their exercise context, a qualitative study was conducted investigating personal experiences.

Methods
Through a reflexive thematic analysis, the present study analyzed 153 narratives from individuals who experienced physical, psychological, or emotional problems due to exercise.

Results
Four main themes emerged: (i) The social pressure of a performativity-oriented culture; (ii) Everything seemed to be going well until the injuries appeared; (iii) Time is money: Interpersonal conflicts; and (iv) It is my responsibility: Intrapersonal conflict. The results suggest that a culture of performance provides an interpretive framework that shapes and sustains problematic exercise experiences. Participants internalized performative values, leading to strict demands and fear of failure, resulting in severe injuries in over 70% of cases. In participants' narratives, the forced interruption of activity was associated with the reported emergence of withdrawal symptoms, with health and morality discourses providing the framework for rationalizing their excessive dedication.

Conclusions
These findings suggest that problematic exercise is not an individual issue, but an expression of a broader culture prioritizing performance. These results underscore the importance of shifting toward biopsychosocial interventions that foster identity flexibility and prioritize holistic well-being and enjoyment over performance metrics.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Journal of Behavioral Addictions
Creators:	Sicilia, Á., Alcaraz-Ibáñez, M., Szabo, A. and Griffiths, M.D.
Publisher:	Akademiai Kiado Zrt.
Date:	12 February 2026
ISSN:	2062-5871
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1556/2006.2025.00526 DOI 2576194 Other
Rights:	© 2026 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium for non-commercial purposes, provided the original author and source are credited, a link to the CC License is provided, and changes – if any – are indicated.
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Melissa Cornwell
Date Added:	16 Feb 2026 11:08
Last Modified:	16 Feb 2026 11:08
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/55283

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