Personality Traits and Exercise Addiction in Ultra Endurance Athletes

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
Ultra endurance sports (events exceeding 6 hours) is becoming increasingly popular and Exercise Addiction (EA) is frequent in this type of sports, which are characterized by very high training volume. However, little is known about the personality traits of athletes who are more likely to develop EA. This study aims to assess the personality traits associated with EA in ultra endurance athletes. We designed a cross sectional study. Participants have to fill a web-based questionnaire including the Big Five Personality Test for assessing the personality traits and the Exercise Dependence Scale-Revised (EDS-R) for assessing EA. Also they have to fill a personal question about demographics (age, gender, work), sport practice and eating habits. A minimum sample size of 300 participants is expected. Statistical analyses will test the association between personality traits and the presence (or absence) of EA according to the EDS-R. Secondary analysis will test the association between the type of sport (running, cycling, triathlon, swimming), the volume of sport practice and the presence of eating disorders and EA.

Official Title
-----------------
Assessment of Personality Traits Associated With Exercise Addiction in Ultra Endurance Athletes

Conditions
-----------------
Exercise Addiction

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Other: Web based survey


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: athletes participating in ultra endurance sport events (exceeding 6 hours) in running/trail, cycling, swimming, Nordic skiing individuals who volunteered to participate in the study individuals with access to internet Individuals reading French Exclusion Criteria: individuals not meeting the inclusion criterias individuals who did not participate in an ultra endurance event in the previous year

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Ultra endurance athletes<br>Individual participating in ultra endurance sports (events exceeding 6 hours) including running, cycling, triathlon, swimming and Nordic skiing. Participants are above 18 years of age and volunteer to participate in this web-based survey. | Other: Web based survey<br>* Web-based survey on exercise addiction and personality traits<br>|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Exercise Addiction | The Exercise Dependence Scale-revised (EDS-R, french version) 21 items, 7 subscales, scores from 1-6 for each item and scores above 15 by subscale defining EA. | One single evaluation at a single point in time through study completion, an average of 3 months | 
| Personality traits | The French version of the Big Five Inventory is a 45-item inventory which measures the five broader domains of personality. | One single evaluation at a single point in time through study completion, an average of 3 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Demographics | Age, gender and type of work | One single evaluation at a single point in time through study completion, an average of 3 months | 
| Sport Practice (sport) | The type of sport practiced | One single evaluation at a single point in time through study completion, an average of 3 months | 
| Sport Practice (volume) | The volume of training (number of hours weekly) | One single evaluation at a single point in time through study completion, an average of 3 months | 
| Sport Practice (number of events) | The average number of ultra endurance events per year | One single evaluation at a single point in time through study completion, an average of 3 months | 
| Sport Practice (fitness certificate) | The type of care practitioner consulted for fitness certificate | One single evaluation at a single point in time through study completion, an average of 3 months | 
| Eating habits (dietary supplements) | The type of dietary supplement used | One single evaluation at a single point in time through study completion, an average of 3 months | 
| Eating habits (SCOFF questionnaire) | The two last questions of the SCOFF questionnaire (Fat, Food) | One single evaluation at a single point in time through study completion, an average of 3 months |