ArticleHealthcare (Basel, Switzerland)2025
Exploring Exercise Addiction, Self-Esteem, and Early Maladaptive Schemas: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Female University Students.
Article in Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Exercise Dependence and Its Health Correlates: A Cross-Sectional Survey-Based Study of Impulsivity, Depression Symptom Severity, and Exercise Duration.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Exercise addiction: A review and evaluation of current research and theory.Journal of behavioral addictions · 2026Review
- The prediction role of perfectionism on exercise addiction in college students: chain-mediated effects of self-esteem and social anxiety.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Perfectionism and emotional eating among college students: a chained mediation model of body image state and exercise addiction.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND/
objectivesAlthough physical exercise provides numerous health benefits, it can occasionally become addictive, leading to negative consequences for physical and mental health. Specifically, the role of maladaptive schemas in the relationship between exercise addiction and self-esteem underscores the importance of addressing these cognitive patterns in therapeutic settings to develop practical interventions that enhance exercise with healthier self-perceptions. This study aims to analyze the role of early maladaptive schemas in the relationship between exercise addiction and self-esteem.
methodsThe design of this study is non-experimental, correlational, and cross-sectional. The sample comprised 788 university women students (mean age 20.39 years, SD = 2.28).
resultsExercise addiction is negatively associated with self-esteem and shows positive but weak correlations with most early maladaptive schemas, except for Impaired Autonomy. A mediating effect was identified for Disconnection and Rejection (β = -0.08,
conclusionsThese findings suggest that the decrease in self-esteem among individuals with exercise addiction could be explained by the activation of maladaptive schemas that influence exercise motivation, with Over-Vigilance and Inhibition standing out in particular. Furthermore, it is necessary to develop cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based interventions focused on modifying early maladaptive schemas and strengthening self-esteem. Additionally, it would be advisable to implement educational programs in university and sports settings that promote well-being and enjoyment over the pursuit of external validation or obsession with body image. These strategies could help prevent exercise addiction and mitigate its negative effects on self-esteem.
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