Accelerometer-measured and self-reported physical activity in relation to extraversion and neuroticism: a cross-sectional analysis of two studies

Abstract

Background: Personality reflects relatively stable and pervasive tendencies in feeling, thinking and behaving. While previous studies have found higher extraversion and lower neuroticism to be linked to higher self-reported physical activity levels, larger studies using accelerometer-measured physical activity are lacking. This study investigated the cross-sectional associations of extraversion and neuroticism with both accelerometer-measured and self-reported physical activity and the role of these personality traits in possible discrepancies between these two measures of physical activity among Finnish adults. Methods: Two community-dwelling samples were used in this study: a) 47-55-yr-old women (n = 1098) and b) 70-85-yr-old women and men (n = 314). In both samples, extraversion and neuroticism were assessed by the 19-item short form of the Eysenck Personality Inventory. Physical activity was assessed with hip-worn tri-axial accelerometers and self-reported questions. Regression analyses were adjusted by age, BMI and education. Results: In the middle-aged women, neuroticism was negatively associated with accelerometer-measured leisure time moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (β = −.07, p = .036) and with self-reported physical activity (β = −.08, p = .021), while extraversion was positively associated with self-reported physical activity (β = .10, p = .005). No associations of extraversion or neuroticism with physical activity were found in the older men and women. Older adults who scored high in neuroticism reported less physical activity than what was measured by accelerometers (β = −.12, p = .039). Extraversion was not associated with discrepancy between self-reported and accelerometermeasured leisure time physical activity in either sample.

Relationship between personality traits and health behavior among working women in Japan

“…The present study demonstrated that among Japanese working women, higher extraversion was associated with desirable physical activity habit and daily fruit consumption and higher conscientiousness was associated with low-risk alcohol consumption habits and daily fruit consumption. However, non-working women exhibited higher extraversion and lower neuroticism in association with desirable physical activity habits, in line with previous research ( Kekäläinen et al, 2020 ). This difference might depend on personality trait, employment status, or other individual factors.…”

Variability in Human Mobility during the Third Wave of COVID-19 in Japan

“…As indicated by previous studies that personality factors, such as the Big Five, contribute to inter-individual variability in physical activity [22][23][24], our study revealed that the extraversion score and conscientiousness score was positively and was negatively associated with human mobility, respectively. In addition, our study found that ego resiliency as a factor of personality, which has received attention in the field of mental health, Not surprisingly, people who used public transportation and rode bicycles had greater LSA scores, although a previous study indicated that there was no association between the use of public transportation and outings [7].…”

The bite is worse than the bark: Associations of personality and depressive symptoms with memory discrepancy.

“…Note. PERSONALITY AND MEMORY DISCREPANCY (Kekäläinen, Laakkonen, et al, 2020). In the however, extraversion was not associated with discrepancy between self-reported and accelerometer-measured leisure time physical activity.…”

“…For example, individuals who scored high on neuroticism tended to overestimate their actual weight, while extraverts tended to underestimate their actual weight (Sutin & Terracciano, 2016). Furthermore, individuals who score high on neuroticism were more likely to underestimate their leisure time physical activity compared to accelerometer-measured leisure time physical activity (Kekäläinen, Laakkonen, et al, 2020). In the same study, however, extraversion was not associated with discrepancy between self-reported and accelerometer-measured leisure time physical activity.…”