6.5: Conclusion
- Page ID
- 112020
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Physical activity has many antecedents that range from the individual to environmental and social policy. One personal factor that has received much attention and has the potential for broad reaching adaptations to current physical activity theory and practice is personality. Personality theory has one of the longest and richest traditions in psychology; currently, the dominant taxonomy used by scholars worldwide is the FFM. This model has also been used extensively to understand the role of personality in physical activity.
Currently the cumulative evidence supports a modest relationship between personality and physical activity. In particular, self-reported physical activity has a reliable, yet small positive association with Extraversion and Conscientiousness and a small negative relationship with Neuroticism. Much of the research to support these relationships is cross-sectional, yet there is a growing evidence base to show that personality can affect physical activity over time using longitudinal designs. Interestingly, some evidence even supports a beneficial effect of physical activity on personality change over time.
How personality may influence physical activity has also seen considerable research attention. There is a body of evidence that personality traits may playa role in social cognitive constructs such as attitudes, enjoyment, self-efficacy, barriers/motives, and intention. Conscientiousness, in particular, has been shown to influence whether people are likely to follow through with intentions, and may contribute to what is known as the intention-behavior gap. Similarly, personality may moderate the affective response to physical activity, thus influencing more impulsive determinants of behavior beyond social cognitions. Personality is also linked to physical activity choices and preferences. For example, it has been established that higher intensity aerobic activities are more likely to be performed by extraverts.
The relationships between general symptoms of mental distress and physical activity are dependent on personality characteristics. Individuals with personality profiles that put them at higher risk for mental distress may benefit from greater levels of fitness and physical activity participation. Less work has been done among populations with clinical mental disorders, which are frequently comorbid with chronic illness, highlighting the need for continued work in this direction.
Finally, research is starting to explore how personality may be used to improve physical activity interventions. Associations between personality and physical activity represent a potentially challenging obstacle rather than a target for change. Thus, health promoters may need to consider interventions adapted to personality to maximize program reach and effectiveness. Preliminary considerations for the application of personality psychology to physical activity promotion provided herein (Table 6.2) should inform practitioners and interventionists aiming to maximize physical activity and exercise programming with the goal of adherence through personalized approaches.
In summary, much evidence exists on the relationships between personality and physical activity, though more work is required to understand genetic, cognitive,and affective mechanisms, developmental associations across extended periods of time, and the development and implementation of personality adapted physical activity promotion strategies. Lastly, rigorous measurement of physical activity with concurrent direct and indirect measures is needed to understand the differential observations of association between physical activity and personality to better inform application moving forward.