title: Personality and actigraphy-measured physical activity in older adults.
abstract: Most studies on personality and physical activity have relied on self-report measures. This study examined the relation between Five Factor Model personality traits and objective physical activity in older adults. Sixty-nine participants (Mage = 80.2 years; SD = 7.1) wore the ActiGraph monitor for 7 days and completed the NEO Personality Inventory-3 First Half. Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness were associated with more moderate physical activity and more steps per day whereas Neuroticism was inversely related to these physical activity measures (βs > .20). The associations for Neuroticism and Conscientiousness were attenuated by approximately 20-40% when accounting for disease burden and body mass index but were essentially unchanged for Extraversion and Agreeableness. These findings confirm self-report evidence that personality traits are associated with physical activity levels in older adults. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences, Florida State University.
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Artese
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Florida State University.
authors.forename: Desirae
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ehley
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Florida State University.
authors.forename: Angelina R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sutin
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, College of Medicine, Florida State University.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Terracciano
mesh_terms: D056044:Actigraphy / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D000075384:Neuroticism; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology*; D010555:Personality Inventory