Habitual exercisers: a blood serum and personality profile

In summary, this study indicated that those subjects who participated in regular physical activity were distinguished from nonexercisers by being more tough-minded, prudent, and relaxed in so far as their personality characteristics (16 PF) are concerned. If we consider the above mentioned statement by Birren, it is our feeling that these traits are highly desirable for interpersonal relations and are antithetic to the theory of avoidance behavior shown to increase with age. In relation to the blood serum profile, the habitual exercisers were seen to possess, in particular, lower levels of serum alkaline phosphatase. This finding may be indicative of the compressive or tensile effect of chronic physical activity on the skeletal system and has led us to embark upon further studies in this area.