Personality, exercise and psychological well-being: Static relationships in the community

• Published in: Personality and individual differences Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 47 - 53
• Main Authors: Yeung, Robert R., Hemsley, David R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1997; Elsevier
• Subjects: Affectivity. Emotion; Biological and medical sciences; Exercise; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Personality; Personality. Affectivity; Psychological wellbeing; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Relationship; Physical exercise; Human; Affect affectivity; Personality; Prediction; Psychological well being
• ISSN: 0191-8869; 1873-3549
• DOI: 10.1016/S0191-8869(96)00158-4

It is often claimed that participation in physical exercise is associated with a range of psychological benefits. In addition, certain personality traits have been linked with patterns of exercise participation. However, almost no research has examined the roles of personality, exercise, and psychological well-being in a single study. The present study examined the relationships between exercise, personality traits, and psychological health in a sample of 204 women and 48 men, recruited from health clubs and adult education classes by postal survey. Results from the women in the sample suggest that participation in physical exercise contributed only a small amount of variance (6%) on the prediction of Positive Affect. Personality factors were by far the most significant determinants of psychological well-being.