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Running and its effect on family life
D S Fick1, S J Goff, R Oppliger
1Department of Family Practice, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.
Archives of Family Medicine
|July 1, 1996
Summary
Running is generally not a major cause of family conflict. Runners experiencing high conflict often have broader family issues, not solely related to their running commitment.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Family Studies
- Psychology
Background:
- Balancing personal pursuits like running with family responsibilities is a common challenge.
- Understanding the interplay between athletic commitment and family dynamics is crucial for well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the frequency of conflict between running commitment and family life.
- To differentiate runners experiencing conflict based on commitment levels to running and family roles.
- To assess if conflict is associated with reduced spousal support for running.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire was distributed to 1426 running club members.
- Data collected included demographics, running habits, conflict levels, commitment to running and family, and spousal support.
- The Family APGAR scale measured global family functioning.
Main Results:
- Out of 724 respondents, 5.5% reported high conflict between running and family life.
- Runners in high-conflict groups showed lower family commitment and spousal support compared to low-conflict groups.
- Commitment to running was similar between high and low conflict groups.
Conclusions:
- Running itself is not a primary driver of family conflict for most individuals.
- High conflict appears linked to broader family issues, indicated by decreased spousal support.
- Prioritizing family commitment alongside running can mitigate potential conflicts.