Are you a fitness buff? Perhaps you make frequent trips to the gym. Perhaps you exercise first thing in the morning. Maybe you like to hit the gym after a long day at work. You might not think about changing your daily routine just yet. But if you truly love working out and putting your body through rigorous workouts, you could turn your passion into a career. You can take a personality test to discover your passion.
The Dualistic Model of Passion suggests that two types of passions have different consequences. An obsessive passion has negative consequences such as reduced self-esteem and burnout. According to Vallerand, harmonious passion is positively related to physical fitness. The same theory suggests that obsessive passion can lead to exercise addiction. The current study found that both types of passions affected physical fitness and the risk of exercise addiction. It included 61 college students who completed a questionnaire on their physical activity habits and attitudes.
The first MANOVA analysis using self-report data showed that the group differences were significant, Wilk’s l = 0.55. However, there were differences in the mean scores among the different passion groups. Therefore, a more detailed analysis is necessary. The results of this study indicate that the two types of passions were not necessarily correlated with one another. This is a good indication that fitness can be a passion for some people.
The findings of the current study have practical implications for those who are passionate about exercise. It was discovered that people with obsessive passions were at a higher risk of exercise addiction and physical dependence. They may also perform worse than those with harmonious passions. Ultimately, the results of this study suggest that passion for fitness is an essential factor in determining whether an individual will stick to an exercise regimen. It is possible to develop a passion for exercise based on its psychological aspects.
To become passionate, an activity must fit in with your values and identity. It must be something you enjoy doing. It needs to support you. It should also be aligned with your goals and values. Passion is not an obsession unless it is harmonious, and it is very common in the fitness industry. So, can fitness be a passion? And if it is, what do you need to do to cultivate it?