Müller, C. Personality Traits and Physical Activity: Insights from German University Students. Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ.2023, 13, 1423-1440.
Müller, C. Personality Traits and Physical Activity: Insights from German University Students. Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2023, 13, 1423-1440.
Müller, C. Personality Traits and Physical Activity: Insights from German University Students. Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ.2023, 13, 1423-1440.
Müller, C. Personality Traits and Physical Activity: Insights from German University Students. Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2023, 13, 1423-1440.
Abstract
This study explores the intriguing relationship between personality traits, self-rated fitness (SRF), and physical activity (PA) variables among German university students (N = 4,244), and sheds light on the impact of personality on adherence to PA guidelines. Employing an online cross-sectional study, the short-form of the Big Five Inventory-2 assessed five domains of personality traits (Extraversion, Negative Emotionality, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Open-Mindedness). PA, including sitting time, was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (short-form). SRF and muscle-strengthening activities (MSA) were assessed with one item each. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses examined associations of individual personality trait domains and all domains combined with SFR, PA variables, and adherence to PA guidelines, controlling for sociodemographic, behavioral, and (mental) health covariates. Most reliably, Extraversion and Conscientiousness revealed positive associations with PA variables, while Negative Emotionality yielded inverse relationships with PA variables. For instance, each unit increase in Extraversion corresponded to additional 17 minutes weekly MSA. Contrary, daily sitting time was unrelated to personality. Of note, high Open-Mindedness was associated with lower odds for adhering to current PA guidelines. The findings have implications for developing targeted interventions that promote a physically active lifestyle and support students' well-being and academic success.
Keywords
Five-Factor Model; health psychology; exercise; sedentarism; sedentary behavior; resistance training; public health; physical activity guidelines
Subject
Public Health and Healthcare, Public, Environmental and Occupational Health
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
