The role of sport in the manifestation of addictive behaviour.

Athletes are often viewed as the epitome of health with extraordinary physical and mental strength. However, athletes are human and as such have vulnerabilities that can leave them susceptible to mental health issues, something which is becoming more widely discussed and accepted. Addiction is as issue that athletes may face but the reasons why athletes develop addictive behaviours, such as alcoholism, gambling or excessive exercising, are still relatively unknown and the ways in which sport contributes to the manifestation of these behaviours is not well understood. My research will explore the complexities of athletes experiences and aim to unravel the spider web that is addiction.