Personality and Physiological Traits in Middle-Aged Runners and Joggers
- 1 September 1977
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Journal of Gerontology
- Vol. 32 (5) , 541-548
- https://doi.org/10.1093/geronj/32.5.541
Abstract
A series of personality and physiological tests and measurements were made in 48 healthy male runners and joggers 40-59 years of age (x = 47.3 yrs.). The Cattell 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire showed that the subjects were significantly more intelligent, imaginative, reserved, self-sufficient, sober, shy, and forthright than the general population. A maximal treadmill test revealed the men to be well above the mean for their age in terms of cardiorespiratory fitness. The men who had run a marathon race and the 40-49-year-age group were higher in terms of fitness than nonmarathoners and the 50-59-age groups, but the groups differed very little from each other on personality characteristics. Middle-aged runners and joggers either possess or develop high levels of self-sufficiency and imagination and tend toward introversion in their personality makeup. It is not known for sure if these factors are a result of or a casual factor in their habitual exercise pattern.Keywords
This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- A comparative analysis of four protocols for maximal treadmill stress testingAmerican Heart Journal, 1976