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Published on: July 27, 2022
Self-control is associated with physical activity and fitness among young males
Marja Ilona Kinnunen1, Johanna Suihko, Nelli Hankonen
1National Institute for Health and Welfare, Health Behaviour and Health Promotion Unit, P.O. Box 30, 00271 Helsinki, Finland. marja.kinnunen@thl.fi
Abstract:
The personality trait self-control has been associated with various adaptive outcomes. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to explore whether self-control is associated with self-reported leisure time physical activity (LTPA), Body Mass Index (BMI), muscle-fitness and aerobic fitness among young men. Participants (482 male conscripts; age M = 20) completed a questionnaire and participated in anthropometric measurements in the DefenceNutri Study, and took standard aerobic fitness and muscle fitness tests as part of their military training. Self-control was found to have a positive association with LTPA, aerobic fitness, and muscle fitness, and a negative association with BMI. Self-control predicted aerobic and muscular fitness regardless of BMI, and remained a significant and independent predictor of aerobic fitness (R² (adj.) = .28, β = .10, p < .05), but not muscle fitness, when LTPA and BMI were controlled for.
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