Difficulties in emotion regulation and exercise addiction among retired adults: the mediating roles of state anxiety and social dependence

Introduction: Exercise is often viewed as universally beneficial for older adults; however, a growing body of evidence suggests that excessive or compulsive exercise may be linked to underlying psychological vulnerabilities. In later life, retirement-related role changes and emotional challenges may increase reliance on exercise as a means of emotion regulation, potentially elevating the risk of maladaptive exercise patterns. Against this backdrop, the present study focuses on retired older adults who engage in regular exercise, examining the psychological mechanisms underlying exercise addiction. Methods: This study investigates the role of difficulties in emotion regulation in predicting exercise addiction among retired individuals, with state anxiety and social dependence as mediators. Data were collected from 471 retired Chinese older adults with regular exercise habits through on-site paper-based surveys. Participants reported engaging in regular exercise, defined as planned physical activity performed at least three times per week for health or recreational purposes. The participants had an estimated mean age of 60.76 years (SD = 8.31). The sample consisted of 144 males (30.6%) and 327 females (69.4%). Validated scales were used to assess difficulties in emotion regulation, state anxiety, social dependence, and exercise addiction. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was conducted to test the hypothesized model and examine both direct and indirect associations. Results: < 0.001) were positively associated with exercise addiction, and each served as a significant mediator linking emotion regulation difficulties to exercise addiction. Conclusion: Exercise addiction among older adults is shaped by both emotional and social vulnerabilities. Interventions should therefore focus on improving emotion regulation abilities and strengthening social support to reduce the risk of compulsive exercise.