Validation of the German Version of the Commitment to Exercise Scale

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sports Medicine
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Pathological exercise, including exercise addiction, presents diagnostic and treatment challenges.
• Validated measurement tools are crucial for advancing research in exercise behavior disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the German version of the Commitment to Exercise Scale (CES-de).
• To assess the discriminant validity and psychological correlates of the CES-de in diverse populations.

Main Methods:

• Confirmatory factor analysis on a community sample (n=571).
• Comparison of CES-de scores across groups: eating disorder patients, elite athletes, and leisure exercisers (n=307 total).
• Correlational analysis with measures of drive for thinness, perfectionism, and psychopathology.

Main Results:

• A one-factor model demonstrated the best fit for the CES-de.
• The CES-de distinguished between individuals with eating disorders and leisure exercisers, but not between those with eating disorders and elite athletes.
• CES-de total scores correlated significantly with drive for thinness, perfectionism, and overall psychopathology.

Conclusions:

• The CES-de is a valid instrument for measuring problematic exercise behaviors and attitudes.
• The total CES-de score is recommended for general use, but specialized tools may be needed for athletes.
• Further research should stratify samples by age and gender to enhance generalizability.