Ricardo De La Vega
26665980700
Publications - 6
Positive and Negative Expectations Associated with Coffee and Energy Drinks: Implications for Placebo–Nocebo Research in Sports
Publication Name: Nutrients
Publication Date: 2025-02-01
Volume: 17
Issue: 4
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Background: Nutritional expectations have been shown to influence exercise performance via placebo and nocebo effects. The present study aimed to evaluate performance-enhancement expectations for coffee and energy drinks using the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale. Methods: A total of 402 participants (48.5% male) with an average exercise history of 4.53 years, engaging in average physical activity 3.91 times per week, were included in the study. Data collection was conducted through the Qualtrics platform. Results: Participants exhibited significantly higher positive expectations for coffee compared to energy drinks (p = 0.002), whereas negative expectations were more pronounced for energy drinks than for coffee (p < 0.001). Males and individuals engaging in anaerobic exercise expressed more positive expectations for energy drinks than females and those participating in aerobic or mixed exercise regimens. Additionally, high-frequency exercisers (≥4 sessions per week) reported greater positive expectations for both beverages and fewer negative expectations for coffee than low-frequency exercisers (≤3 sessions per week). Correlational analyses revealed weak but significant associations between expectations and variables such as exercise history, frequency, intensity, and age. Conclusions: The findings suggest that coffee is perceived as a more effective performance enhancer and exhibits greater placebo-inducing potential than energy drinks, which may elicit stronger nocebo effects. These group-specific perceptions should be considered by trainers, coaches, and researchers when addressing placebo–nocebo mechanisms in the context of sports and exercise.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.3390/nu17040628
Prevalence of the Risk of Exercise Addiction Based on a New Classification: A Cross-Sectional Study in 15 Countries
Ricardo De La Vega
Mia Beck Lichtenstein
Emilio Landolfi
Thomas Zandonai
Abril Cantù-Berrueto
Liye Zou
Umberto Granziol
Robert M. Portman
Merve Denizci Nazlıgül
Mike Trott
Peiying Yang
Aleksei Y. Egorov
Merve Alpay
Mark D. Griffiths
Bhavya Chhabra
Angelica Larios
Mustafa Yildirim
Marco Solmi
Oliver Stoll
Takayuki Akimoto
Mark D. Griffiths
Attila Szabo
Publication Name: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
Publication Date: 2025-10-01
Volume: 23
Issue: 5
Page Range: 3815-3836
Description:
Exercise addiction is widely studied, but an official clinical diagnosis does not exist for this behavioral addiction. Earlier research using various screening instruments examined the absolute scale values while investigating the disorder. The Exercise Addiction Inventory-3 (EAI-3) was recently developed with two subscales, one denoting health-relevant exercise and the other addictive tendencies. The latter has different cutoff values for leisure exercisers and elite athletes. Therefore, the present 15-country study (n = 3,760) used the EAI-3 to classify the risk of exercise addiction (REA), but only if the participant reported having had a negative exercise-related experience. Based on this classification, the prevalence of REA was 9.5% in the sample. No sex differences, and few cross-national differences were found. However, collectivist countries reported greater REA in various exercise contexts than individualist countries. Moreover, the REA among athletes was (i) twice as high as leisure exercisers, (ii) higher in organized than self-planned exercises, irrespective of athletic status, and (iii) higher among those who exercised for skill/mastery reasons than for health and social reasons, again irrespective of athletic status. Eating disorders were more frequent among REA-affected individuals than in the rest of the sample. These results do not align with recent theoretical arguments claiming that exercise addiction is unlikely to be fostered in organized sports. The present study questions the current research framework for understanding exercise addiction and offers a new alternative to segregate self-harming exercise from passionate overindulgence in athletic life.
Open Access: Yes
Exercise addiction revisited: From symptoms to treatment
Publication Name: Theory and Psychology
Publication Date: 2026-02-01
Volume: 36
Issue: 1
Page Range: 68-89
Description:
This paper critically examines “exercise addiction,” a form of dysfunctional exercise behavior often mischaracterized as “exercise dependence.” While dependence is part of addiction, compulsion plays an equally significant role. Unlike substance-based addictions, exercise addiction involves delayed gratification achieved through intense physical effort. It often includes a masochistic drive to uphold self-imposed personal standards or maintain a positive social image. This addiction presents unique symptoms and significant challenges in assessment, as evaluations among healthy exercisers only yield questionnaire-based “risk” scores. The rate at which such high-risk scores turn into morbidity is unknown. Thus, the literature can be misleading via an artificial connection between research-based risk scores and clinically problematic cases. Indeed, such cases typically surface in clinics, not research settings. This complex and diverging path between research endeavors and applied medicine hinders the gathering of robust evidence for exercise addiction being a mental dysfunction, which is the reason why it is currently not classified as a dysfunction in the DSM-5. This paper clarifies exercise addiction and presents evidence for problematic cases based on symptoms and areas of self-harm. Furthermore, the paper distinguishes between commitment and addiction to exercise, presenting the most common theoretical models for exercise addiction. Finally, the work forwards a hierarchical 10-stage treatment framework. Overall, the paper emphasizes the urgent need for close collaboration between researchers and clinicians to accurately classify and address this complex behavioral disorder.
Open Access: Yes
Superstitious Behaviors in Sports and Exercise: A Systematic Literature Review Update
Publication Name: Scandinavian Journal of Psychology
Publication Date: 2026-06-01
Volume: 67
Issue: 3
Page Range: 708-724
Description:
Superstitious behavior is highly prevalent in sports, providing athletes control over anxiety, psychological comfort, and perceived performance benefits. The first literature review on the topic was published in 2016. Since then, new research has expanded the knowledge in the area from cultural, psychological, and situational perspectives. Following the PRISMA guidelines, this systematic review aimed to update and expand the first review on the area. PubMed and Google Scholar articles were scrutinized after the original 2016 review (from 2016 to 2024), and Scopus, Web of Science, and ProQuest databases (not included in the original review) were examined without a time limit. We found 27 eligible studies, including 26 observational and one experimental study. We used the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) to assess study quality. The included studies stem from India, Canada, Taiwan, Greece, Türkiye, Ghana, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, the UK, the USA, Italy, Serbia, and Congo. Data extracted included age, gender, sport type, athletic level, cultural influences, psychological traits, and validated measurement tools. Superstitions in sports remain widespread. About 55.1% of athletes reported engaging in at least one superstition, and over 90% reported sport-specific rituals. Younger athletes exhibited higher levels of superstition than older ones. Gender differences were nuanced and context-dependent. Team and elite athletes relied more on superstitions than individual sports and amateurs. Cultural practices strongly influence superstitions, which often serve as coping mechanisms. They reduce anxiety and improve performance through placebo-like effects. However, excessive reliance on them can lead to burnout. This review confirms the enduring relevance of superstitions in sports. It emphasizes their cultural, psychological, and situational roles. The findings highlight gaps in understanding the placebo effects and long-term impacts of superstitious behaviors. Multidisciplinary research is needed to deepen insights into this complex phenomenon.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.1111/sjop.70059
Passion and Addiction in Aerobic, Anaerobic, and Mixed (CrossFit) Exercises
Publication Name: Studia Sportiva
Publication Date: 2025-01-01
Volume: 19
Issue: 2
Page Range: 235-249
Description:
This study employed exercise dependence and four-phase models to investigate the relationship between passion for exercise and the risk of exercise addiction (REA) among practitioners of aerobic, anaerobic, and CrossFit exercises. Participants (N = 424; 60.8% female; meanage = 38.29 ± 9.71 years) were recruited from fitness centers and social media in Hungary. The sample included 234 CrossFit, 126 aerobic (e.g., running, cycling, swimming), and 64 anaerobic (bodybuilding) exercisers. Data were collected online on Qualtrics, which included demographic questions, the Exercise Addiction Inventory-3, and the Passion Scale-8. CrossFit participants exhibited the highest exercise frequency and intensity, with a greater prevalence of REA (25.2%) compared to the anaerobic (15.6%) and aerobic (14.3%) groups. Cross Fitters also scored higher on salience, withdrawal symptoms, and passion. However, group differences in absolute REA scores vanished after controlling for passion and exercise characteristics. Gender differences emerged, with females showing a stronger affective connection to exercise and higher withdrawal symptoms. Passion was strongly correlated with REA (r = 0.55) and accounted for 28% of the variance in it. Further research is needed to distinguish between passion-driven exercise and addiction.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.5817/StS2025-2-17
Demographic Predictors Associated With Elevated Screen Use in Preschoolers: A Multinational Cross-Sectional Study Based on Parents' Reports
Publication Name: Child and Family Social Work
Publication Date: 2026-01-01
Volume: Unknown
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
The widespread use of smartphones and tablets has greatly increased screen exposure among preschoolers. Since early childhood is crucial for cognitive, behavioural and social development, excessive screen time represents a major public health concern. Identifying factors influencing young children's screen use is vital for creating effective family guidance and health policies. Using convenience sampling, this study collected data from 633 parents across 31 countries to examine how family composition, parental and child characteristics affect the screen time of preschoolers (aged 1–5 years). The model, based on Ordinary Least Squares regression, explained 42% of the variance in children's screen time. Parental device-giving frequency emerged as the strongest predictor, with more frequent giving linked to greater exposure. Screen time also increased with child age and the number of children in the family. Children supervised by mothers had significantly less screen time than those supervised by fathers. Parental age, number of adults in the home, child's sex and temperament were not significant predictors. These findings highlight the significant impact of parental behaviour and household dynamics on preschoolers' screen habits. Interventions should directly target these factors, and family screen time guidelines must evolve to reflect the modern technology landscape, promoting balanced and healthy use.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.1111/cfs.70175
