The Relationship Between Personality and Leisure-Time Physical and Sitting Activity Participation in Adults 50 Years of Age and Older

The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between personality traits and their associated facets with physical and sitting activity preferences among adults ages 50 and older. Although prior research has established relationships between personality traits and general physical activity participation, there has been minimal research addressing the relationship among personality traits, their associated facets and the frequency and duration of specific physical and sitting activities.;The sample was comprised of 212 participants from the Long Beach Longitudinal Study. Respondents who were in the Panel 3 2000 data collection wave, 50 years and older, completed the NEO Personality Questionnaire Form R (NEO-PI-R), the Life Complexity Inventory (LCI), and the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) physical activity and sitting activity questions were included. The mean age was 70.56 years. Hierarchical regression and hierarchical multivariate regression analyses were performed.;Results showed neuroticism, extraversion, and conscientiousness to have relationships with overall sport participation. The activity and positive emotions facets of extraversion showed associations with walking, light and moderate sport participation. Neuroticism was associated with moderate and strenuous sports while its facet, vulnerability, had a relationship with daily hours of strenuous sport participation. Agreeableness showed a positive relationship with moderate sports participation while openness to experience had a relationship with daily hours of strenuous sports. Conscientiousness showed a negative relationship with daily hours of overall sport participation and weekly strenuous sport participation. Findings suggest personality traits can be taken into consideration when advising specific physical activities for adults over 50. Further research is needed to examine the physical activity and conscientiousness relationships among adults 50 and older.