The metacognitive model of psychopathology has been applied to various psychological disorders, with a wide array of studies suggesting that metacognitions play an important role in addictive behaviors. Increasing scientific attention has been focused on a potential and relatively new form of behavioral addiction: compulsive exercising (i.e., when individuals gradually lose control over their exercise habits, act compulsively, and experience negative consequences). As no prior study has evaluated the role of metacognitions in compulsive exercising, the current study aimed to: (i) develop a self-report questionnaire measuring metacognitions about exercise; and (ii) to investigate the contribution of metacognitions to compulsive exercising. A 15 item self-report questionnaire, the Metacognitions about Exercise Questionnaire (MEPQ), was developed and administered to a community sample of 496 exercisers (F = 49.2%, mean age: 39.38, SD = 14.08). Factor analysis revealed a 4-factor solution (which explained 67.22% of variance; fit indices: χ² (84) = 176.12, p < .001; χ²/df = 2.1; RMSEA [90% CI] = .07 [.05;.08]; CFI = .97; SRMR = .06): Positive Metacognitions about Emotional Regulation, Positive Metacognitions about Cognitive Regulation, Positive Metacognitions about Control Over Life, and Negative Metacognitions about Uncontrollability. Positive metacognitions about the usefulness of physical exercise for regulating negative emotional states and negative metacognitions about one’s inability to control the need to exercise significantly predicted compulsive exercising, independently of negative affect. The results of this study suggest that adopting the metacognitive framework of psychopathology to compulsive exercising may be relevant to understanding and treating this condition.

精神病理学的元认知模型已应用于各种心理障碍，大量研究表明元认知在成瘾行为中起着重要作用。越来越多的科学注意力集中在一种潜在的、相对较新的行为成瘾形式上：强迫性锻炼（即，当个人逐渐失去对自己锻炼习惯的控制、强迫性地行动并经历负面后果时）。由于之前没有研究评估过元认知在强迫性锻炼中的作用，目前的研究旨在：（i）开发一份自我报告问卷，测量关于锻炼的元认知；(ii) 调查元认知对强迫性锻炼的贡献。一份包含 15 个项目的自我报告问卷，运动元认知问卷 (MEPQ)，标准 差 = 14.08）。因子分析揭示了一个 4 因子解（解释了 67.22% 的方差；拟合指数：χ ² (84) = 176.12，p  < .001；χ ² /df  = 2.1；RMSEA [90% CI]  = .07 [. 05;.08]; CFI  = .97; SRMR = .06）：关于情绪调节的积极元认知，关于认知调节的积极元认知，关于控制生活的积极元认知，以及关于不可控性的消极元认知。关于体育锻炼对调节消极情绪状态有用的积极元认知和关于一个人无法控制锻炼需求的消极元认知显着预测了强迫性锻炼，与消极情绪无关。这项研究的结果表明，采用精神病理学的元认知框架来进行强迫性锻炼可能与理解和治疗这种情况有关。