Week 8 S PDF - Personality and Exercise

Personality and Exercise Dr. Ross Murray KINESIOL 3H03 Week #8 Oct. 22, 2024 mcmaster.ca Announcements Tutorial #3 is next week Pre-tutorial reading posted on Friday Assignment #3 will be posted after Wednesday tutor...

Personality and Exercise Dr. Ross Murray KINESIOL 3H03 Week #8 Oct. 22, 2024 mcmaster.ca Announcements Tutorial #3 is next week Pre-tutorial reading posted on Friday Assignment #3 will be posted after Wednesday tutorial Marks Assignment #1 posted Assignment #2 by November 8 th Test 1 marks goal = November 8th  Lecture Outline and Objectives To review Eysenck’s Theory of Personality Explore it’s relationship to exercise Review the Five-Factor Model of Personality Explore it’s relationship to exercise and psilocybin Review other personality factors Explore their relationship to exercise  Personality profiles Alex: Outgoing and energetic, Alex loves being around people and thrives in social settings. A natural leader, they enjoy taking charge in group activities and are quick to offer help to others. They always enjoy seeking the next challenge. Taylor: Calm and introspective, Taylor prefers quiet environments where they can focus on creative pursuits. Thoughtful and empathetic, they are a great listener and enjoy deep conversations. Taylor has a passion for finding beauty in the small details of everyday life. Personality and Exercise First things, first Personality has small but significant effects on health and longevity Impacts health behaviors Reactivity to stressors Psychological responses to illness Research in exercise psychology seeks to determine psychological antecedents of physical activity and psychological consequences of physical activity How does personality impact physical activity behaviour? (antecedent) How does physical activity impact personality? (consequence)  How does personality impact exercise behaviours? How is personality impacted by exercise? ANTECEDENTS CONSEQUENCES Exercise types enjoyment and intrinsic motivation Preferred intensity confidence and self-efficacy to perform a Ability to sustain higher intensity despite pain task Setting of exercise Willingness to new activity Group settings vs. alone Willing to take greater risks Outdoor vs. indoor Competitive vs. cooperative vs. leisure Confidence & ability to overcome barriers Ability to stick to a plan, schedule exercise resiliency, ability to handle stress Willingness to try new activities cardiovascular disease risk (x2!!) Risk taking ANT = How can personality impact exercise behaviour? CON = How can exercise behaviour impact personality?  Eysenck’s Theory of Personality Early trait theory… has since been built upon by newer models (i.e., Five-Factor Model) Proposed that there is a neurobiological basis for personality traits Brain structure and function can explain personality traits Extraversion-Introversion (E) Review Traits E – outgoing, sociable, optimistic, impulsive I – Reserved, unsociable, quiet, careful Neurobiological Basis for Extraversion-Introversion Brain Structure Responsible = reticular activating system (reticular formation) Driven by level of arousal in the cortex of the brain Introverts—higher level of basal activation Tend to avoid further stimulation, low pain tolerance Extroverts—lower level of basal activation Tendency to seek further stimulation, high pain tolerance Extraverts @ Rest Introverts @ Rest Stimulation Stimulation Reticular Activating System = volume knob for signals entering the brain Extraversion-Introversion (E) Extroversion and Exercise Exercise increases stimulation Exercise adoption/adherence? Higher pain tolerance Preference for higher intensity activity (greater variety and excitement) Report lower RPE (rating of perceived exertion) Overall, greater likelihood of PA Activity Trait (sub-trait of extroversion) Tendency to be busy and energetic and to prefer fast-paced living  Neuroticism-Stability (N) Review N: Tense, anxious, worried, self-conscious, emotionally unstable N: Calm, even-tempered, easy-going Neurobiological Basis = limbic system & autonomic nervous system Neuroticism and Exercise neuroticism associated with sedentary behavior and PA Exercise training impacts the autonomic nervous system Lowers HR and blood pressure Less reactive to stress Exercise training may lead to less neurotic personality trait Exercise training has also been shown to reduce trait anxiety Conceptually like neuroticism  Stress Recovery and Neuroticism Study Question: Is neuroticism related to recovery from stress? Researchers compared stress recovery between 2 groups of women 43 women w/ high N 44 women w/ low N Performed social stress task w/ Hostile, Neutral, and Friendly conditions Hostile Condition = social stressor Measured anxiety and blood pressure (MAP) 10 minutes after completing each condition Recovery from a stressor Hutchinson and Ruiz (2011) J Personality. 79(2); 277-302.  High Neuroticism = Slower Stress Recovery Hutchinson and Ruiz (2011) J Personality. 79(2); 277-302.  Think about it… 1. How could high neuroticism impact feelings/enjoyment following high intensity exercise? 2. Would you expect someone with high neuroticism to choose to perform high intensity exercise?  Neuroticism associated with higher risk of physical and mental health concerns Linked to limbic system & serotonin Serotonin involved with mood, motivation, appetite, temperature regulation, sexual behaviour Psilocybin QUESTION → Can altering serotonin levels impact personality traits? Psilocybin = psychoactive compound that is a serotonin ‘mimetic’ (similar chemical structure) Study Serotonin Participants with moderate-to-severe treatment resistant depression Ingested 2 doses of psilocybin (1 week apart) in a supervised setting 10 mg and 25 mg doses* Pure psilocybin, not mushrooms Measured personality structure 3-months later 2 Doses of Psilocybin Lowers Depression Severity Psilocybin Serotonin  Psilocybin Alters Personality Structure Main Findings 3 months after only 2 doses of psilocybin + therapy… in neuroticism in openness in extraversion Summary Eysenck’s Personality Theory and Exercise Extroversion is associated with greater PA, higher pain tolerance, and preference for more intense activities Exercise increases arousal / stimulation People with higher extroversion personality traits may seek out this stimulation People with more introversion trait may avoid over-stimulation Neuroticism associated with lower PA and higher sedentary behaviour Exercise may be able to reduce neuroticism traits by modulating ANS No evidence that Psychoticism/Superego traits are related to exercise behaviour  The Five-Factor Model Building upon Eysenck’s Theory FFM proposes that personality is made up of 5 major factors (O.C.E.A.N) The Five-Factor Model and Exercise Behaviour How does personality relate to exercise motivation? Study look at relationship b/w personality traits and motivation towards exercise Studied people @ local rec centre who have been exercising >6 months Levels of external motivation for people with: Levels of internal motivation for people with: Neuroticism Extraversion Openness Conscientiousness Ingledew et al. (2004) Personality & Indiv. Diff  Think about it… Why might someone with high extraversion and conscientiousness have greater intrinsic motivation for exercise? HINT: think back to the 3 basic psychological needs Autonomy Competency, Relatedness  Why might someone with high extraversion and conscientiousness have greater intrinsic motivation for exercise? Satisfying 3 basic psychological needs… Autonomy and Competency Conscientious people better at planning, scheduling, and following through w/ goals. Goal and achievement oriented Extroverts have adherence to PA Seek out stimulation of PA ◦ Good at overcoming barriers Relatedness Extroverts seek out social situations Prefer exercise in groups Other Personality Factors  Intensity Preference/Tolerance Intensity-Preference A predisposition to select a particular level of physical effort when given the opportunity to choose the level Intensity-Tolerance A trait that influences one’s ability to continue exercising at an imposed level of physical effort even when the activity becomes uncomfortable or unpleasant Intensity Preference/Tolerance More on this next lecture One size does not fit all American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) – 2000 “individual preferences for exercise must be considered to improve the likelihood that the individual will adhere to the exercise program” Personality: Practical Recommendations Difficult to make straightforward practical recommendations Can consider personality type when prescribing exercise Exercise may be beneficial for those who are more emotional (i.e., neurotic, less emotionally stable) Include some type of aerobic activity (most of the research) However, resistance training research likely to emerge in time General Summary Personality and Exercise Small, yet significant associations between some personality traits and PA… Neuroticism, Extroversion, Conscientiousness However, limited evidence for personality-based theoretical frameworks to predict PA There are some clear overlaps between personality & social cognitive theory constructs Motivation, intention, overcoming barriers, self-confidence