What Your Favorite Workout Reveals About You

• MORE READ: Scientists identify a "fat gene" that predisposes individuals to obesity

No matter whether we are at home, outside, or in the fitness center, plenty of people find specific types of physical activity unpleasant but enjoy others.

Currently, a recent investigation suggests that this might be attributed to an individual's character profile.

In experiments, researchers from University College London evaluated the personalities of over 100 individuals and their favored form of physical activity.

They discovered that high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which involves brief sessions of vigorous activity followed by minimal rest intervals, is generally preferred by outgoing individuals who enjoy being noticed.

In the meantime, individuals who favor brief workout routines done independently tend to be neurotic—indicating a tendency toward negative or fixated thinking patterns.

As per the scientists, customizing our workout plans according to our character traits may aid in maintaining our fitness regimens and eventually achieving physical health.

"Many people talk about wanting to increase their activity levels, yet find it difficult to sustain these changes," said Dr. Flaminia Ronca, the lead researcher from University College London.

We discovered that our personality affects how we participate in physical activity, and specifically which types of exercises we find most enjoyable.

In their research, Dr. Ronca and his team gathered 132 participants from the broader community, representing various physical fitness levels and different life experiences.

Subjects were divided into two groups: one participated in an eight-week at-home cycling and resistance exercise program, while the other served as a 'control' group, maintaining their regular daily activities.

During all the trials, individuals were evaluated on their physical condition and stress levels, and also filled out a survey regarding how much pleasure they derived from the workout sessions.

To evaluate individual personalities, subjects underwent assessments measuring the "Big Five" characteristics—openness, responsibility, extroversion, kindness, and emotional instability.

The "Big Five" personality characteristics represent the most widely recognized and frequently applied framework for understanding personality within the field of academic psychology.

It comes as no surprise that individuals who finished the fitness program became more fit and powerful, irrespective of their scores on the personality assessment.

However, importantly, the scientists identified multiple links between individual characteristics and preference for specific types of physical activity.

For instance, individuals who are outgoing often found highly intense physical activities, like high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and a maximal effort bike test, to be especially enjoyable.

What does high-intensity interval training (HIIT) refer to?

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) consists of brief intervals of vigorous physical activity followed by rest phases.

It can be carried out either through aerobic activities (which require increased oxygen consumption, like fast walking) or anaerobic exercises (such as lifting weights).

HIIT has been recognized among the leading 10 fitness trends since 2014, according to a survey conducted by the American College of Sports Medicine.

In the meantime, being diligent was associated with cardiovascular workouts (activities that involve oxygen consumption and elevate your pulse, like fast walking) and abdominal strengthening routines (designed to enhance the muscles in your torso).

It was noted by the research group that individuals who are careful and attentive tend to engage in more physical exercise; however, they are probably motivated by the health benefits resulting from such activities instead of deriving pleasure from them.

Individuals who exhibited high levels of neuroticism—a characteristic linked to stress and nervousness—tended to favor brief periods of exercise over extended exertion.

Individuals with neurotic tendencies also favored exercising alone without supervision, such as avoiding the tracking of their heart rate during the program.

This result indicates that people with high levels of neurosis value having room for autonomy and personal time during physical activity.

Strikingly, the sole group that showed a notable decrease in stress following exercise was individuals with high scores in neuroticism.

This implies that physical activity is highly beneficial in lowering stress levels among individuals who tend to be anxious, yet it may not offer the same level of effectiveness for those with different character types.

Scientists also discovered individuals who scored highly on openness—marked by imagination, interest, and eagerness to acquire new knowledge—found intense physical activity less pleasant compared to other pursuits.

Although not every personality characteristic was associated with pleasure derived from exercising, the recent research, published in Frontiers in Psychology can assist individuals in choosing exercises that match their personal preferences.

This approach may enhance the pleasure of exercising, potentially leading us to maintain it over time and achieve better health.

"Our brains function differently, influencing our actions and how we engage with the world," stated Dr. Ronca.

It's therefore expected that individual traits can also affect our reactions to varying levels of physical activity.

It might be possible to apply this understanding to customize exercise suggestions for each person — and ideally assist them in becoming and staying more physically engaged.

What does the Five Factor Model refer to in the field of psychology?

The Big Five framework is the most commonly recognized personality theory among psychologists nowadays.

The concept suggests that character can be simplified into five fundamental traits, referred to as OCEAN:

- Openness Refers to an individual's eagerness to engage in novel activities, interest in exploring the world, and creative thinking abilities

- Conscientiousness Shows characteristics such as organization, dependability, and the motivation to reach objectives via thorough preparation and perseverance.

- Extroversion Describes the level of energy, extroversion, and social interaction a person exhibits, along with their desire for companionship and excitement.

- Agreeableness Focuses on traits such as collaboration, reliability, empathy, and being thoughtful towards others

- Neuroticism Assesses emotional resilience and the likelihood of feeling negative emotions such as anxiety, mood fluctuations, or frustration

Read more