The Role of Personality in Sport and Physical Activity

Abstract

There is now good evidence that athletic success and participation in physical activity can be predicted by personality traits. In this article, we review new studies that have contributed to our understanding of these relationships and outline potential avenues of inquiry to support the development of personality-trait research in exercise and sport. Our review identified a number of novel findings from contemporary studies. In the context of sport performance, new studies have demonstrated that personality traits relate to long-term athletic success, interpersonal relationships, and athletes' psychological states before, during, and after competitions. In the context of health-related exercise, new studies have demonstrated that personality traits relate to leisure-time sitting time, strength and mobility in old age, and unhealthy (addictive) exercise behaviors. There is also evidence that physical activity contributes to personality change. Our recommendations include a more targeted focus on adolescence (as this is the age of greatest change in personality and sport participation) and a greater consideration of consultant personality traits in applied research and professional practice (given their role in intervention effectiveness).

Personality traits and body mass index: Modifiers and mechanisms

“…Physical activity, for example, has been linked to personality: Individuals high in Extraversion, Conscientiousness, or Emotional Stability (i.e., low Neuroticism) tend to engage in more physical activity than individuals who score lower on these traits (Allen & Laborde, 2014; Rhodes & Smith, 2006; Wilson & Dishman, 2015). These differences may be due partly to differences in the motives for exercise associated with each of the traits.…”

The role of personality traits in development of overtraining syndrome in elite athletes in adolescence: a review study

“…The fi rst one suggests that certain personality traits may be a predisposition to achieve a better performance. The second one understands achieving higher performance, experiencing success and life changes connected to sport career as a contributing factor to modifi cation of personality traits (Allen & Laborde, 2014;Egloff & Gruhn, 1996;Nia & Besharat, 2010;O'Sullivan, Zuckerman & Kraft, 1998).…”

“…They identifi ed the dimensions of neuroticism and conscientiousness to be signifi cantly connected to performance of athlete in women soccer players. Personality traits also infl uence interpersonal relationships of athletes and psychological states related to competitions (Allen, & Laborde, 2014).…”

Physical Activity Mediates the Association between Personality and Biomarkers of Health

“…That is, personality traits have a direct impact on health, but personality traits are also related to other factors (such as health behaviors), which in turn are the stronger influence on health. Physical activity is one such behavior that may play a role, as shown by a growing body of literature connecting it to personality (Allen & Laborde, 2014). Wilson and colleagues (2015) found that, among undergraduate women, higher extraversion was associated with higher self-reported physical activity, and higher neuroticism was associated with lower physical activity.…”