The way you make me feel: a network analysis of social ties that could exacerbate compulsive exercise among a sample of sorority women
| Date | 16 May 2023 |
| Pages | 510-521 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-01-2023-0004 |
| Published date | 16 May 2023 |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Social inclusion |
| Author | Megan S. Patterson,Mandy N. Spadine,Allison N. Francis,Tyler Prochnow |
The way you make me feel: a network
analysis of social ties that could
exacerbate compulsive exercise among
a sample of sorority women
Megan S. Patterson, Mandy N. Spadine, Allison N. Francis and Tyler Prochnow
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this study is to assess factors related to sorority women connecting with
people who exacerbatefeelings of exercise guilt and body dissatisfaction(BD), both of which preclude
compulsiveexercise.
Design/methodology/approach –In all, 207 sorority women (egos) completed online surveys
measuring physical activity, BD, compulsive exercise and egocentric networks (n= 1,105 social ties/
alters). Two random coefficient multilevel models assessed factors related to an ego connecting to
someonewho makes her feel: guilty about her exercise habits and good abouther looks.
Findings –Exercise patternswithin networks related to how often an alter madeego feel guilty about her
exercise habits; alter genderand communication frequency related to how often an alter made ego feel
good abouther looks; and ego’s BD score was related to bothfeelings of guilt and body satisfaction.
Originality/value –The findingsof this study support and extend literaturehighlighting the importanceof
someone’simmediate social network on their body image and relatedbehaviors.
Keywords Egocentric networks, College students, Body dissatisfaction, Compulsive exercise,
Social network analysis, Obligatory exercise
Paper type Research paper
While exercise is typically promoted because of copious health benefits (Powell
et al.,2019
), exercise can become harmful. When exercise becomes compulsory
or obligatory, it can lead to mental and physical consequences, including the
development of eating disorders (Hausenblas et al.,2017;Meyer et al.,2011). Compulsive
exercise (CE) is characterizedby a drive or desire to exercise, usually excessively to control
weight, and is laden with feelings of guilt and anxiety when exercise is postponed or
cancelled (Dittmer et al., 2018;Taranis et al., 2011). When someone engages in CE, they
typically prioritize exercise over other activities and continue exercise despite physical or
social consequences (Hausenblas et al., 2017).
Research shows that CE often precedes eating disorderdiagnosis and represents the most
difficult behavior to treat among those affected (Dalle Grave, 2009;Polivy and Herman,
2002). Eating disorders are among the deadliest of all mental illnesses, resulting in
approximately 10,200 deaths per year in the USA (Deloitte Access Economics, 2020).
Adolescent females, usually between ages 15 and 29 years, account for the majority of
diagnoses (Polivy and Herman, 2002) and, as a result, disproportionately affect college
women compared to other groups (Fitzsimmons-Craft et al.,2019). Several studies have
shown sorority involvement can lead to women being less satisfied with their bodies,
Megan S. Patterson is
based at the Department of
Health Behavior, Texas
A&M University, College
Station, Texas, USA.
Mandy N. Spadine is based
at the Susan G. Komen
Breast Cancer Foundation,
Dallas, Texas, USA.
Allison N. Francis and
Tyler Prochnow are both
based at the Department of
Health Behavior, Texas
A&M University, College
Station, Texas, USA.
PAGE 510 jMENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION jVOL. 28 NO. 5 2024, pp. 510-521, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308 DOI 10.1108/MHSI-01-2023-0004
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