Hate Exercise? Find Your Perfect Routine | Neuroscience & Personality
Personality Impacts How We Experience – and Benefit From – Exercise
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New research reveals how our inherent personality traits influence not only our enjoyment of different types of exercise, but also the benefits we reap, notably when it comes to stress reduction. A recent study from the UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience found that while a fitness intervention improved the physical health of all participants, the way they benefited varied significantly based on their personality.
The Study: A Broad Approach to Fitness
The study involved 132 participants who embarked on a six-week fitness programme. This program incorporated a blend of cardiovascular and strength training, consisting of three weekly cycling sessions – light, threshold, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) – alongside one weekly bodyweight strength session. Researchers assessed participants’ fitness levels and stress levels before, during, and after the intervention, while also measuring their personality traits using the widely recognized “Big Five” model:
Extroversion: Energetic, outgoing, and sociable.
agreeableness: Cooperative, trusting, and compassionate.
Conscientiousness: Orderly, reliable, and goal-oriented.
Neuroticism: Measures emotional stability and tendency towards negative emotions.
Openness: Curious, imaginative, and open to new experiences.Importantly, 86 participants completed the intervention, and all experienced improvements in fitness and strength, demonstrating the universal benefits of regular exercise. However, the nuances of that experience – and the specific benefits gained – where deeply connected to personality.
How Personality Influences Exercise Enjoyment
The study uncovered distinct links between personality traits and exercise preferences. While not every trait correlated with enjoyment, several key findings emerged:
Extroverts Thrive on Intensity
Extroverted individuals demonstrated a particular fondness for high-intensity exercise. They actively enjoyed challenging workouts like HIIT and maximum-intensity cycling, suggesting they benefit from the energetic and stimulating nature of these activities.
neuroticism and the Need for Space
Participants scoring highly in neuroticism engaged well with the program but showed a preference for bursts of intensity over sustained effort. Crucially, they preferred not being monitored - such as, avoiding heart rate tracking. This suggests that individuals with higher neuroticism may benefit from exercise environments that prioritize independence and privacy, allowing them to engage without feeling scrutinized.
Conscientiousness: Driven by Outcomes, Not Just Enjoyment
Those with high conscientiousness displayed well-rounded fitness, excelling in both aerobic fitness and core strength, and generally being more physically active. though, conscientiousness didn’t directly predict enjoyment of a specific exercise type. Researchers theorize that conscientious individuals are more motivated by the health benefits of exercise than by the enjoyment itself, leading to adherence driven by a sense of duty rather than pleasure.
The Impact of Personality on Stress Reduction
while both the intervention group and a control group started with similar stress levels, a significant reduction in stress was only observed in the intervention group among those who scored highly in neuroticism*.
Professor Paul Burgess, a lead author of the study, highlighted this finding: “We found that people who scored more highly in the neuroticism personality trait showed a particularly strong reduction in stress when they undertook the fitness training recommended in the study. This suggests that there may be particular benefits in stress reduction for those with this trait.”
The Key Takeaway: Find What You Enjoy
The researchers ultimately concluded that the most crucial factor in establishing a sustainable exercise routine is finding an activity that you genuinely enjoy. This intrinsic motivation is far more likely to lead to long-term adherence and, as the study demonstrates, can unlock specific benefits tailored to your individual personality.