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New Delhi, July 8 — A new study suggests that choosing a workout aligned with one’s personality traits could make exercise more enjoyable and effective. Researchers from University College London found that extroverts tend to thrive on high-intensity activities, while individuals with higher levels of neuroticism—those prone to worry—prefer short bursts of activity and aerobic training, which may help relieve stress.
The study, published in Frontiers in Psychology, assessed 132 volunteers using the Big 5 personality model, which measures traits such as extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience. Lead author Flaminia Ronca highlighted the importance of these findings, noting, “We found some clear links between personality traits and the type of exercise the participants enjoyed most, which I think is important because we could potentially use this knowledge to tailor physical activity recommendations to the individual—and hopefully help them to become and remain more active”.
Key findings include:
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are more likely to enjoy and benefit from high-intensity workouts that require significant energy and effort.
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Individuals high in neuroticism may not find sustained effort activities satisfying, but they benefit most from aerobic training’s stress-reducing effects.
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tend to have higher fitness levels, spend more hours on physical activity each week, and have lower body fat percentages.
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was the only trait predictive of higher anaerobic threshold and peak power output.
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often score high on agreeableness and sociotropy, while those in individual sports tend to be more conscientious and autonomous.
The researchers hope these insights will help address the global trend toward sedentary lifestyles by making exercise more appealing and sustainable through personalized recommendations.
“We know that the global population is becoming increasingly sedentary. You often hear about people trying to become more active, but struggling to make lasting changes,” Ronca said.
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This article is based on preliminary research findings and should not be interpreted as medical advice. Individuals should consult healthcare professionals before making significant changes to their exercise routines.
