A UK-based genetic analysis published on Jul. 23 suggests that higher levels of neuroticism may causally reduce engagement in moderate and vigorous physical activity, while conscientiousness could mitigate these effects.
Researchers examined data from the United Kingdom Household Longitudinal Study, focusing on personality traits measured by the Big Five Inventory and various forms of exercise participation. The study included working-age participants of European descent with available genetic data. It found that individuals with higher neuroticism scores were less likely to engage in moderate or vigorous sports activities, particularly among those with lower conscientiousness scores.
According to the findings, a one-unit increase in neuroticism was associated with a 9.1 percentage-point decrease in the likelihood of participating in at least one moderate sporting activity per week. Additionally, this increase correlated with approximately a 5% reduction in self-rated sports activity and 0.7 fewer days of vigorous activity per week. For those below the median for conscientiousness, a one-unit rise in neuroticism corresponded to a 31.6 percentage-point drop in moderate sporting activity.
The study also observed that individuals above the median for conscientiousness engaged more frequently in exercise and showed smaller negative associations between neuroticism and physical activity outcomes compared to their less-conscientious counterparts. However, estimates for moderate and vigorous activities within this subgroup were not clearly reported.
The researchers used regression models and Mendelian randomization techniques to estimate causal relationships between personality traits and exercise behaviors. Control variables included age, sex, region, education level, marital status, employment status, race, youngest child’s age at home, urban residency status, household income adjusted for size (equivalized), and long-term health conditions.
In summary, the study confirmed previous evidence linking higher neuroticism to lower levels of physical activity but advanced understanding by estimating causality under Mendelian randomization assumptions. The authors concluded that further research should investigate whether personalized exercise interventions tailored to individual personality profiles can improve adherence rates.
