Key result
Higher levels of neuroticism (r = 0.08; 95% CI 0.05-0.10) and lower levels of conscientiousness (r = -0.08; 95% CI -0.11 to -0.06) were significantly associated with more sedentary behavior.
Why the study?
Do personality traits correlate with time spent in sedentary pursuits?
Meta-Analysis
Do personality traits correlate with time spent in sedentary pursuits?
Effect estimate: r+ = 0.08 (95% CI 0.05, 0.10)
Higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness are weakly associated with increased sedentary behavior.
Associations may aid risk stratification for sedentary behavior; extends observational evidence but leaves causal links and interventions open.
OBJECTIVE: Too much sitting is associated with an increased risk of chronic disease and premature death. This investigation aimed to systematically review the evidence for personality as a correlate of time spent in sedentary pursuits. METHOD: Electronic databases (PubMed; Science Direct; PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, and SPORTDiscus via EBSCO; Web of Science; MEDLINE via Ovid; Scopus; ProQuest) were searched in December 2015 for studies reporting an association between at least 1 personality trait and time spent in at least 1 sedentary behavior. Pooled mean effect sizes were computed using inverse-variance weighted random effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-six studies (28 samples, 110 effect sizes) met inclusion criteria. Higher levels of sedentary behavior were associated with higher levels of neuroticism (r+ = .08, 95% confidence interval [CI: .05, .10]) and lower levels of conscientiousness (r+ = -.08, 95% CI [-.11, -.06]). Nonsignificant associations were observed for extraversion (r+ = .00, 95% CI [-.07, .06]), openness (r+ = -.02, 95% CI [-.05, .02]), and agreeableness (r+ = -.04, 95% CI [-.09, .00]). Effects for neuroticism and extraversion were moderated by measurement of sedentary behavior, and effects for openness and agreeableness were moderated by participant age and gender. CONCLUSIONS: Findings appear consistent with personality trait associations with other health-related behaviors. More objective measures of sedentary behavior are required to make more definitive conclusions about the contribution of personality to a sedentary lifestyle. (PsycINFO Database Record
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Allen et al. (2016) conducted a meta-analysis in Sedentary behavior. Personality traits (e.g., neuroticism, conscientiousness) was evaluated on Time spent in sedentary behavior (r+ = 0.08, 95% CI 0.05, 0.10). Higher levels of neuroticism (r = 0.08; 95% CI 0.05-0.10) and lower levels of conscientiousness (r = -0.08; 95% CI -0.11 to -0.06) were significantly associated with more sedentary behavior.
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