Recreational running offers a lot of physical and mental health benefits – but some people can develop exercise dependence, a form of addiction to physical activity which can cause health issues. Shockingly, signs of exercise dependence are common even in recreational runners. A study published in Frontiers in Psychology investigated whether the concept of escapism can help us understand the relationship between running, wellbeing, and exercise dependence.
[...] "Escapism is often defined as 'an activity, a form of entertainment, etc. that helps you avoid or forget unpleasant or boring things'. In other words, many of our everyday activities may be interpreted as escapism," said Stenseng. "The psychological reward from escapism is reduced self-awareness, less rumination, and a relief from one's most pressing, or stressing, thoughts and emotions."
Escapism can restore perspective, or it can act as a distraction from problems that need to be tackled. Escapism which is adaptive, seeking out positive experiences, is referred to as self-expansion. Meanwhile maladaptive escapism, avoiding negative experiences, is called self-suppression. Effectively, running as exploration or as evasion.
[...] The scientists found that there was very little overlap between runners who favored self-expansion and runners who preferred self-suppression modes of escapism. Self-expansion was positively related with wellbeing, while self-suppression was negatively related to wellbeing. Self-suppression and self-expansion were both linked to exercise dependence, but self-suppression was much more strongly linked to it. Neither escapism mode was linked to age, gender, or amount of time a person spent running, but both affected the relationship between wellbeing and exercise dependence. Whether or not a person fulfilled criteria for exercise dependence, a preference for self-expansion would still be linked to a more positive sense of their own wellbeing.
[...] "More studies using longitudinal research designs are necessary to unravel more of the motivational dynamics and outcomes in escapism," said Stenseng. "But these findings may enlighten people in understanding their own motivation, and be used for therapeutical reasons for individuals striving with a maladaptive engagement in their activity."
Journal Reference:
Frode Stenseng, Ingvild Bredvei Steinsholt, Beate Wold Hygen, Running to get "lost"? Two types of escapism in recreational running and their relations to exercise dependence and subjective well-being, Front. Psychol., 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1035196
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Barenflimski on Wednesday April 05, @08:00PM (12 children)
Can any of these "scientists" find me the perfect person? Show me the person that has no vice, that does everything perfect, lives till 120, never drank, smoked, saw porn or upset anyone.
All I read anymore when I see this stuff is a study about how various human beings deal with being human beings.
I don't care what they study, but the issue becomes this; at some point, some politician, interest group, or AI will gather these useless studies together, call them science, and dictate to you and me why what we are doing is bad, and why we would all be better off doing it their way.
It would probably be quicker and less work if we all just became Buddhists and realize that life on earth as a human is nothing but suffering.
What we should do is call these studies for what they are, which is the basis for our future AI overlords farming us like we're in the Matrix.
(Score: 5, Funny) by Thexalon on Wednesday April 05, @08:32PM
I'm reminded of a George Burns joke, when he was solidly in his elder years: "I drink like a fish, I smoke like a chimney, I chase women half my age. People tell me what my doctor says of this, and I tell them my doctor died 10 years ago!"
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 2) by Tork on Wednesday April 05, @08:39PM (2 children)
Ummm... based on what you wrote, why are you wagging your finger at the scientists?
Slashdolt Logic: "25 year old jokes about sharks and lasers are +5, Funny." 💩
(Score: 2) by Barenflimski on Wednesday April 05, @09:20PM (1 child)
I was simply making a comment on the state of the ridiculum of society anymore. Not wagging any fingers. Scientists do studies. Should I call them something else?
Man... I swear. One would think the shit we talk about around here was going to be law and we are all politicians.
(Score: 2) by Tork on Wednesday April 05, @09:25PM
Nah I think I read your remark a little differently than you intended. I understand now.
Slashdolt Logic: "25 year old jokes about sharks and lasers are +5, Funny." 💩
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday April 05, @08:46PM (4 children)
There are no perfect people.
We had a "running addicted" friend. She literally ran more than 60 hours a week, it was what she enjoyed doing and she had the freedom to do it, so she did it - and basically very little else. It was clearly an addiction, she "could stop whenever she wanted" - but didn't mind getting caught out in thunderstorms, didn't have time for many other things she "might like to do," and would run when injured because she "just felt terrible if she couldn't get out and run."
>at some point, some politician, interest group, or AI will gather these useless studies together, call them science, and dictate to you and me why what we are doing is bad, and why we would all be better off doing it their way.
This is a fact of life, and the mantle of "SCIENCE" means little because of it. Don't expect our publish or perish culture to change based on moral principles, given a large enough population of aspiring publishing scientists they will always publish whatever the journals will accept. Don't expect our grant hounds to turn down money because "it's morally questionable whether or not I should be producing biased research", it's the Andrew Dice Clay story: "Little Boy Blew, he needed the money."
There is good science out there, there is bad science out there, politicians, interest groups, AI and whoever else is going to cherry pick the evidence they like to back up their pre-conceived notions of what agendae they want to push. Then it's up to the counterpoint side to go and cherry pick better evidence against them - if anybody cares enough to drive the debate.
Transparency is always the answer: if you're going to use "SCIENCE" to back up serious arguments, the more transparent the sources, their funding, the adequacy and preponderance of research available on the topic, all should be included in the evidence of the argument. If all the opposition is showing you are a handful of articles from "The BEST journals" - keep digging, it takes surprisingly little money to get a half dozen seemingly independent papers to back up almost any position anyone might choose.
Україна досі не є частиною Росії Слава Україні🌻 https://news.stanford.edu/2023/02/17/will-russia-ukraine-war-end
(Score: 3, Funny) by Barenflimski on Wednesday April 05, @09:22PM (3 children)
Maybe I should get addicted to running.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday April 05, @11:34PM (1 child)
She was happy up until her joints started failing in her 40s, now she walks all the time but apparently it's not as satisfying....
Україна досі не є частиною Росії Слава Україні🌻 https://news.stanford.edu/2023/02/17/will-russia-ukraine-war-end
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 06, @01:25PM
Yeah running for hours is overrated unless you're running from enemies.
Walking for more than 6000 steps/day is healthy: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140612085120.htm [sciencedaily.com] ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4146701/ [nih.gov] )
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/walking-8200-steps-a-day-may-lower-your-risk-of-chronic-disease-study-finds [medicalnewstoday.com]
HIIT might be useful if you don't have the time but probably not as good for your knees: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/high-intensity-interval-training/ [harvard.edu]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 06, @11:06AM
I'd love to get addicted to running, however my bad back and arthritic knee aren't so keen on the idea and they would rather that I develop a pain medication addiction rather than practice Tai Fu (Tai Chi - but with added tea...)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 05, @09:26PM
Am engineer and innovative bicycle designer that I got to know was adamant on the topic of recreational running. When he saw a runner out on the road he usually said, "They are fleeing, that's not healthy...they should be cycling instead."
(Score: 4, Insightful) by corey on Wednesday April 05, @09:45PM (1 child)
I kinda agree with your sentiment. This reminds me of back in the 90s when it was all in the news that eggs were bad for you: they increased cholesterol and a bit later they were found to cause cancer. My parents, who ate eggs for breakfast, whinged about it all. Then a few years later the nutrition guidance was that what we’re back to being great for you, etc. In my life, everything seems to move around in circles, one minute it is bad for you and next minute it’s good for you. Chocolate and coffee, and wine, are examples. I know what I should eat and shouldn’t and I’m relaxed about it all. Worrying about it is bad for you.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 05, @09:53PM
> Then a few years later
I've been in and out of style for several cycles now. In college I had a beard and pony tail--low maintenance, lop some off when it gets to be annoying. Still do (but less hair on top now). Each style-cycle I paid less and less attention to what the style consultants had to say (usually my SO or female relative).
(Score: 4, Touché) by DannyB on Wednesday April 05, @09:52PM (11 children)
Running to escape your problems may work. But what if your problems can run faster than you do, and they catch up to you, and they have sharp teeth?
How often should I have my memory checked? I used to know but...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 05, @09:55PM
> ... and they have sharp teeth?
See (#1299988) above -- that's one way to interpret my bike designer's comment on running = fleeing.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 05, @10:31PM (3 children)
It's commonly said that you shouldn't run from an attacking animal, but my real life experienced proved this to be sort of a half truth. I was attacked by a pitbull. It was running with another dog. I initially acted casually, no fear, as I've always been told and had *always* worked--just go about your business and they won't bother you.
Not this time. Pitty takes a nip, first my hand, a little one. Fortunately the other dog wasn't a fighter. This could have been much worse. Pitty must have liked the taste because now it was on. The 2nd bite was way worse--Forceful on the leg, much harder. Hard enough to leave a bruise, go through my pants, draw blood, etc. I don't remember exactly at what point now, but somewhere in this process I kicked her. I've never kicked a dog in my whole life, it went against everything that's "me". After the two bites and the kick this wasn't stopping.
Somehow I had enough presence of mind to reason about it. I was already in a dogfight. If I ran and escaped, I'd no longer be in a dogfight. If the dog caught me, I'd still be in a dogfight but I was already in a dogfight. Conclusion? No downside to running. Also, standing and fighting wasn't working so why continue in a battle of attrition? Another bite seemed guaranteed.
So I ran and it lost interest.
Long story short, animal control got involved, dog held for quarantine, no rabies, returned to owner, owner later got rid of dog, I think voluntarily. I don't know if there was another problem. I was told I was the 2nd victim. The first victim was a cat.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 05, @10:57PM (1 child)
(re: pitbull story)
My last memorable dog problem was a big German shepherd. It was being walked on a long leash, owner on the sidewalk. I rode by slowly on my bicycle and the dog flipped out. Ran at me in a direction that snapped the leash around a sign post and broke the leash. I started to spin and the dog kept up for a long block, by then the owner was out of yelling range.
It was fast, but didn't have the endurance to keep up that sprint, finally I turned around and saw it stopped, tongue hanging out panting, unable to bark anymore. I've often wondered if that shepherd really wanted to catch me, or if it was just craving some hard exercise that it never got on the leash--so I was a good excuse to really RUN?
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Thursday April 06, @02:25PM
That German may have actually eaten you. Still, who knows the history of that particular dog. A lot of the time it boils down to how well a dog has been treated, how well it's been socialized, etc. German Shepherds can get very big and are not to be messed with. You want a "don't screw with me" dog, get a good German Shepherd and get it trained (good training includes human training, so you'd need to be all in). The problem with pitbulls is that once they get into you, they don't want to let you go. The nice thing about pitbulls is that they are relatively short and a lot of them are overfed.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Thursday April 06, @02:30PM
The idea is that, if you turn your back/run, the animal may think you're a prey item. You don't want to prey. The problem is that some animals just have a mean streak and there's not a whole lot to help against something like that. Other than a big stick (or other weapon with plenty of reach) and/or speed. I'm pretty sure, if you hit that pitbull with a cattleprod when it came in for the first attack. I would have likely decided that you're not worth it.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 3, Informative) by krishnoid on Wednesday April 05, @11:53PM
This is why it makes sense to run with someone who's not as fast as you, so the problems can catch up to them first. Double points if they have a strong hide that the teeth have trouble piercing.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 06, @12:03AM (4 children)
Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by Kell on Thursday April 06, @12:13AM (3 children)
This is the metaphor I use for my academic career. As was pointed out by JoeMerchant above, academia demands endless publication and it doesn't matter if it's right - only if it's in good journals and cited. Which is a garbage metric and I hate it. As a result, I'm a very poor academic who probably won't make full prof. However, I have maintained my soul and personal dignity and while it may not pay the bills it does help me sleep better at night. Other scientists I know are sociopaths and have zero problem doing all the dirty tricks. Their ilk are the ones who take the levers of society and are the reason why capitalism and life in general sucks for anyone but them.
Scientists ask questions. Engineers solve problems.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Thursday April 06, @02:24AM (2 children)
One simple trick to get those bills paid: get out of academia.
Post grad teaching position in 1991 offered me $18k + "free tuition." The real world paid $37k, and consistently climbed faster.
Україна досі не є частиною Росії Слава Україні🌻 https://news.stanford.edu/2023/02/17/will-russia-ukraine-war-end
(Score: 3, Informative) by Kell on Thursday April 06, @07:01AM (1 child)
I'm a research engineer and the things I build work - as a consequence I have several licensed patents and I'm not fussed about money, so much as freedom. I could not do the sorts of research I'm interested in if I worked in industry.
Scientists ask questions. Engineers solve problems.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Thursday April 06, @09:54AM
I got lucky and found a good spot in industry Research right out of school. It wasn't perfect, but 12 years later I was making about triple the income of the postdocs who seemed to be working quite a bit harder than me.
Good job securing patent income, that's a tricky one at some Universities I understand, and about impossible in industry.
Україна досі не є частиною Росії Слава Україні🌻 https://news.stanford.edu/2023/02/17/will-russia-ukraine-war-end
(Score: 3, Touché) by EJ on Wednesday April 05, @10:06PM (1 child)
I think they need to do a study on how badly being a psychologist affects your mental wellbeing.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 05, @11:02PM
At the same time, it's also worth studying why certain people are attracted to being a psychologist in the first place. Working hypothesis: They have (or imagine they have) mental problems and want to learn more about (and/or fix) their problems.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Thursday April 06, @09:12AM
What is the difference between the two?
There seems to be some begging the question where good things are labeled good and bad things labeled bad without discussing why they're good or bad in the first place.
(Score: 1) by BeaverCleaver on Friday April 07, @01:06AM
"If you do exercise, it will make you feel good, and you will want to do it every day."
In most Western countries I would expect that the number of people who need to run more is a much bigger number than the people who run too much.