Merve Alpay
58246288100
Publications - 7
Association between hand grip strength and exercise addiction among high-level athletes: differences by sport category and sex in elite athletes
Publication Name: Frontiers in Psychology
Publication Date: 2025-01-01
Volume: 16
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Introduction: Handgrip strength (HGS) is a key indicator of upper-body strength and overall physical fitness. While its links to health and sports performance have been widely studied, its relationship with the risk of exercise addiction (REA) remains unclear. Thus, the present study examines the relationship between HGS and REA across various sports disciplines, sexes, and national contexts, aiming to deepen our understanding of their intricate interplay. Methods: Using a cross-sectional research design, data were collected from 1,211 high-level athletes from Türkiye (n = 656) and Hungary (n = 555), spanning a wide range of competitive sports. The measures involved demographic questions, the Exercise Addiction Inventory to assess REA, and HGS assessments. Results: We found significant negative correlations between HGS and REA among Turkish female athletes competing in racquet and water sports (p < 0.05). In contrast, significant positive correlations emerged in team sports played with hands and target-based sports (p < 0.05). Statistically significant HGS-REA correlations were also observed among Turkish male athletes participating in gymnastics and esthetic sports (p < 0.05). Among Hungarian athletes, a significant HGS-REA correlation was found in male racquet sports athletes and female athletes engaged in combat sports (p < 0.05). Regardless of sports discipline, a statistically significant positive correlation was observed exclusively among Turkish female athletes (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The present study reveals that the correlations between HGS and the risk of REA may vary depending on country, sex, and type of sport. The findings indicate that HGS may be either positively or negatively associated with REA in specific sports disciplines.
Open Access: Yes
Balancing Performance and Health in Elite Hungarian Athletes: The Relationship Among Disordered Eating Risk, Body Composition, and Nutrition Knowledge
Publication Name: Nutrients
Publication Date: 2025-01-01
Volume: 17
Issue: 2
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Background: disordered eating (DE) and eating disorders (ED) can negatively impact athletes’ health, wellbeing, and athletic performance. Objective: this cross-sectional study aims to assess DE risk, body composition, and nutrition knowledge among elite Hungarian athletes. Methods: DE risk was assessed using DESA-6H and EAT-26 scales, nutrition knowledge through the Abridged Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (A-NSKQ), and body composition with the OMRON BF511 device. The data were analyzed using Kendall’s tau correlations, Mann–Whitney U tests, and ROC analysis. Results: a total of 71 athletes participated (39.4% males, mean age = 24.8 years, SD = 4.8 years and 60.6% females, mean age = 24.3 years, SD = 4.3 years). At-risk scores on the DESA-6H scale were recorded for nine athletes (12.7%), while 32.4% scored in the risk zone on the EAT-26, with female athletes in aesthetic, endurance and weight-dependent sports being most affected. Low BF was observed in four males and four females. Nutrition knowledge (49.1%) was below the acceptable threshold. DESA-6H significantly correlated with EAT-26 scores, BMI, sports nutrition knowledge, and A-NSKQ total scores. A statistically significant difference by gender was found in the EAT-26 total score (p = 0.019, d = 0.65). Risk groups significantly differed in A-NSKQ scores (p = 0.026, d = 0.511) and sport nutrition knowledge, specifically (p = 0.016, d = 0.491). Using EAT-26 to identify at-risk athletes and the DESA-6H recommended cut-off, the ROC analysis showed a sensitivity of 29.1% and a specificity of 95.7%. Conclusions: insufficient nutrition knowledge plays a role in being at-risk for DE and ED. These results underscore the need for early detection, early sport nutrition education across all elite athletes, with particular attention to female athletes in aesthetic, endurance and weight-dependent sports, and for monitoring these athletes to prevent DE. Further work is warranted to optimize screening tools such as EAT-26 and DESA-6H for elite athletes.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.3390/nu17020231
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
Eating disorders and disordered eating on wrestling sport: a systematic review
Publication Name: BMC Nutrition
Publication Date: 2025-12-01
Volume: 11
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Although there are studies on the effects of eating disorders (EDs) among athletes, a limited number of studies have been conducted in wrestling. This systematic review aims to identify the prevalence of eating disorders (ED) and disordered eating (DE) in wrestling, which is important for developing healthier weight control behaviours within the sport. A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA protocol, focusing on publications from the last 10 years. PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus and Web of Science were used to identify eligible studies with the searching terms “Eating disorders” AND “wrestlers” OR “Eating disorders” AND “wrestling” OR “Disordered eating” AND “wrestlers” OR “Disordered eating” AND “wrestling” OR “Anorexia Nervosa” AND “wrestlers” OR “Anorexia Nervosa” AND “wrestling” OR “Bulimia Nervosa” AND “wrestlers” OR “Bulimia Nervosa” AND “wrestling” within the timeframe from 2014 to 2024. Eight articles met the inclusion criteria. When all studies were considered as a homogeneous group, the analysis revealed: (a) wrestlers are significantly more susceptible to Eds than other branches, (b) wrestlers have unhealthy weight control behaviors to control weight for optimum performance and to enhance their muscular appearance due to body image issues. It is recommended that future research address eating disorders, which have predominantly been studied in male wrestlers, within female wrestlers as well. Additionally, it is advised to identify potential causes contributing to the elevated risk of eating disorders among wrestlers and to develop targeted prevention strategies.
Open Access: Yes
Mindful eating under pressure in combat sport: a single-case study of an adolescent athlete
Publication Name: Frontiers in Psychology
Publication Date: 2025-01-01
Volume: 16
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine closely how mindful eating intervention influences the eating behavior of a kickboxer 10 days before the competition. Methods: A mindful intervention was conducted. A mixed method was used, in which data was collected from two semi-structured interviews and four scales [Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), and Mindful Eating Scale (MEQ-30)]. The first semi-structured interview and four scales were administered before the intervention process, and the last interview was conducted after the competition. 10 days before the competition, 10 sessions of “mindful raisin eating” exercise, each lasting 10 min, were performed. The scores obtained from the scales were calculated manually. The data collected from semi-structured interviews were analyzed using the descriptive analysis method. Results: According to the administered 4 scales initially, the athlete’s average scores were (X̄=16) on the Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26), (X̄=3.125) on the “shape concern” sub-dimension of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), (X̄=4) on the Emotional Eating sub-dimension of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), and (X̄=2.5) on both the “awareness” and “eating control” sub-dimensions of the Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ-30). Qualitative data showed, positive improvements were detected in eating attitudes and behaviors, stress management, perceived performance, and body image, respectively. During the mindful eating exercises, she lost approximately 2.4 kg (~3.9% of her body weight) without experiencing stress on weigh-in day. She also reported that focusing on mindful eating helped her avoid unhealthy foods and made her feel safe and calm. Conclusion: It was stated by the athlete that there were positive improvements in eating attitudes and behaviors, level of coping with stress, perceived performance and body perception.
Open Access: Yes
Correction: Association between hand grip strength and exercise addiction: differences by sport category and sex among elite athletes (Frontiers in Psychology, (2025), 16, (1597239), 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1597239)
Publication Name: Frontiers in Psychology
Publication Date: 2025-01-01
Volume: 16
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Sport Psychology The title of this article was erroneously given as: Association between hand grip strength and exercise addiction among high-level athletes: differences by sport category and sex in elite athletes. The correct title of the article is: “Association between hand grip strength and exercise addiction: differences by sport category and sex among elite athletes.” The original version of this article has been updated.
Open Access: Yes
Psychometric validity and reliability of the Turkish exercise addiction inventory-3
Publication Name: Addicta the Turkish Journal on Addictions
Publication Date: 2026-03-13
Volume: 13
Issue: 1
Page Range: 137-146
Description:
The Exercise Addiction Inventory-3 is the latest version of the Exercise Addiction Inventory, whose use has become more frequent in several countries. The present study investigated its psychometric properties among Turkish adults. The study recruited 389 participants through online social media platforms. Reliability was tested through Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega. Validity was tested through correlations among the Exercise Addiction Inventory-3 score and scores on the Exercise Dependence Scale-Revised, Ten-Item Personality Inventory, SCOFF Questionnaire, and Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised. Structural validity was tested via confirmatory factor analysis and measurement invariance. The findings suggested that the Turkish version of the Exercise Addiction Inventory-3 is reliable. Moreover, confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the models demonstrated good to excellent fit indices. Partial measurement invariance was observed. The Exercise Addiction Inventory-3 scores were positively correlated with the Exercise Dependence Scale-Revised and Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised scores. The total scale score and the Addiction Tendency subscale score were negatively correlated with SCOFF scores but not the Health Relevance subscale scores. The Turkish Exercise Addiction Inventory-3 is a reliable and valid instrument to assess the risk of exercise addiction that differentiates at-risk groups from passionate exercisers. Implications for future studies are discussed.
Open Access: Yes
