Illness behaviour in elite middle and long distance runners

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Abnormal illness behavior is characterized by symptoms exceeding objective pathology.
• Elite athletes may possess unique psychological profiles influencing their health perceptions.
• Understanding these differences is crucial for appropriate medical care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare illness attitudes and beliefs between elite middle and long-distance runners and non-athlete controls.
• To identify psychological attributes associated with abnormal illness behavior in athletes.

Main Methods:

• 150 elite athletes and 150 matched non-athlete controls were surveyed.
• The Illness Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ) assessed psychological attributes.
• The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) measured psychiatric morbidity.

Main Results:

• Athletes showed significantly different illness behavior patterns compared to controls.
• Athletes were more somatically focused and denied life stressors more often.
• Athletes scored higher on the Whiteley Index of Hypochondriasis; no psychiatric morbidity differences were found.

Conclusions:

• Elite athletes' illness attitudes and beliefs differ from the general population.
• The origins of these psychological traits require further investigation.
• Healthcare professionals should recognize these distinct athlete characteristics.