Key result
An overactive temperament profile at age 31 was associated with a significantly higher likelihood of maintaining a stable high level of moderate to vigorous physical activity into midlife among females (OR 2.12).
Why the study?
Does temperament profile at age 31 predict moderate to vigorous physical activity levels and longitudinal changes from age 31 to 46 in a general population cohort?
Cohort (n=3,084)
Does temperament profile at age 31 predict moderate to vigorous physical activity levels and longitudinal changes from age 31 to 46 in a general population cohort?
Odds Ratio: 2.12 (95% CI 1.5–3.01)
p-value: p=<0.001
Temperament profiles, particularly those characterized by high harm avoidance, are associated with lower levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity over the life cycle, suggesting that physical activity interventions could be tailored to individual temperament traits.
Passive temperament profiles may flag women at sustained low MVPA risk; leaves open whether temperament-targeted interventions raise activity levels.
BACKGROUND: Insufficient physical activity is risk factor for morbidity and premature mortality. This population-based birth cohort study investigated the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between self-reported temperament at age 31 and self-reported leisure-time moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels and changes thereof from the age of 31 to the age of 46 years. METHODS: The study population comprised 3,084 subjects (1,359 male and 1,725 female) from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966. MVPA was self-reported at ages 31 and 46 years. Novelty seeking, harm avoidance, reward dependence, and persistence and their subscales were measured using Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory at age 31. Four temperament clusters were used in the analyses: persistent, overactive, dependent, and passive. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between temperament and MVPA. RESULTS: The persistent and overactive temperament profiles at age 31 were positively associated with higher MVPA levels both in young adulthood and in midlife, while the passive and dependent temperament profiles were associated with lower MVPA levels. The overactive temperament profile was associated with a decrease in MVPA levels from young adulthood to midlife among males. CONCLUSION: A passive temperament profile characterized by high harm avoidance is associated with a higher risk of low MVPA level than other temperament profiles over the life cycle in females. The results suggest that temperament may play a role in determining the level and sustainability of MVPA. Individual targeting and intervention tailoring for promoting physical activity should consider temperament traits.
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Karppanen et al. (2023) conducted a cohort in Physical inactivity (n=3,084). Overactive temperament profile vs. Other temperament profiles (reference: stable low physical activity) was evaluated on Stable high moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) level from age 31 to 46 (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.50-3.01, p=<0.001). An overactive temperament profile at age 31 was associated with a significantly higher likelihood of maintaining a stable high level of moderate to vigorous physical activity into midlife among females (OR 2.12).
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