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Personality and physiological traits in middle-aged runners and joggers
Journal of Gerontology
|September 1, 1977
Summary
Middle-aged male runners and joggers exhibit enhanced cardiorespiratory fitness and distinct personality traits like high self-sufficiency and imagination. These characteristics may stem from or contribute to their consistent exercise habits.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Psychology
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Regular physical activity is linked to numerous health benefits.
- Understanding the psychological and physiological profiles of habitual exercisers is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the personality traits and cardiorespiratory fitness of middle-aged male runners and joggers.
- To explore potential correlations between exercise habits and psychological/physiological characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Administered the Cattell 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire to 48 healthy male runners/joggers (ages 40-59).
- Conducted maximal treadmill tests to assess cardiorespiratory fitness.
- Compared fitness and personality across marathon runners vs. non-marathoners and age groups (40-49 vs. 50-59).
Main Results:
- Subjects scored significantly higher in intelligence, imagination, self-sufficiency, and introversion compared to the general population.
- Participants demonstrated well-above-average cardiorespiratory fitness for their age.
- Marathon runners and the younger age group showed slightly higher fitness levels, with minimal personality differences between subgroups.
Conclusions:
- Middle-aged runners and joggers display elevated self-sufficiency, imagination, and introverted tendencies.
- High cardiorespiratory fitness is a notable characteristic of this demographic.
- The causal relationship between these personality traits and habitual exercise remains undetermined.
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