Extroverted individuals often move through life with a mix of long, sustained activities and extended periods of stillness. In contrast, people who score higher on neuroticism tend to adjust their movement patterns over time. A recent study in the field of behavioral health explored these questions by examining how personality traits relate to everyday mobility. The researchers drew on a broad data set and reported findings that illuminate the link between temperament and daily movement. Rather than focusing solely on total activity, the study sought to understand how personality shapes when people stay active and when they rest, in real world settings. The work relied on precise measurements of movement across days, giving a clearer picture than surveys alone and highlighting that behavior is patterned, not random.
Researchers from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland analyzed data from the same group of individuals at ages 33, 42, 50 and 61. They evaluated the Big Five personality traits—neuroticism, extraversion, conscientiousness, openness, and agreeableness—and linked them to measures of physical activity and sedentary behavior.
These researchers were pioneers in combining personality profiles with objective indicators of movement, marking a first step toward integrating psychological traits with physical activity metrics for a clearer picture of everyday behavior.
Findings indicated that individuals with high conscientiousness and high extraversion tended to maintain both activity and rest patterns for longer stretches. In other words, they could sustain periods of movement while also preserving longer intervals of inactivity, suggesting stable routines help govern how people move across days and weeks.
Conversely, those higher in neuroticism frequently interrupted long sedentary periods, moving more often to break up sitting time. This tendency to shift from stillness to action can have meaningful health implications, even when overall activity levels are similar across personality groups.
Although general activity levels appear roughly similar across different personality profiles, the results challenge common stereotypes about behavior and temperament. The research emphasizes that personality can shape the rhythm of activity and rest, rather than dictating how much one moves in total.
Overall, the study adds nuance to our understanding of how personality relates to daily movement. It highlights the importance of considering individual differences when advising on healthy lifestyles and designing public health strategies that support people in aligning activity with their inherent dispositions.