Latest news with #FlaminiaRonca
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The Secret To Sticking With Exercise May Be As Simple As Asking Yourself These 5 Questions
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." A new study suggests that the secret to exercise motivation may lie in your personality type. The findings could help tailor exercise programs to your personality, increasing the odds you'll work out... and enjoy it. Here's what top experts want you to know. For some people, the idea of getting after it at the gym is the absolute last thing they want to be doing. And as it turns out, that might actually be something you can change. That's the major takeaway from a new Frontiers in Psychology study, which found that the secret to workout motivation could be as simple as matching your go-to exercise with your personality type. Of course, the findings are a little more detailed than that, but they raise some good questions about how to find inspiration to keep on keepin' on at the gym. Let's dig in with help from experts. Meet the experts: Dani Singer, CPT, founder of Fit2Go Personal Training; Thea Gallagher, PsyD, clinical associate professor at NYU Langone Health and cohost of the Mind in View podcast; Flaminia Ronca, PhD, study co-author and associate professor at University College London For this study, researchers recruited 132 people for lab testing to determine their baseline fitness levels. From there, the participants were split into two groups. One group did an eight-week home fitness plan of cycling and strength training, while the other group were asked to continue with their usual lifestyle and workout plan. Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire on how much they enjoyed their training at the start of the eight weeks, the one week mark, and at the end. The researchers simultaneously looked for the following personality traits in the participants: Extraversion (having a tendency to be outgoing and energetic) Conscientiousness (being organized and disciplined) Agreeableness (being kind, empathetic, and focused on harmony) Neuroticism (being more easily upset and prone to anxiety) Openness (having a willingness to embrace new ideas and perspectives) The researchers discovered that people's personality types actually dictated how likely they were to enjoy a particular type of exercise. Why does that matter? Well, the findings can help people tailor their exercise programs to their personality to try to increase the odds they'll enjoy their workouts, the researchers wrote in the conclusion. Based on the study's findings, extraverts are more likely to enjoy high-intensity activities like intense endurance sessions, or a HIIT session, says Flaminia Ronca, PhD, study co-author and associate professor at University College London. And while this particular study didn't focus on introverts, Ronca says these folks may overlap a little with those who score high on neuroticism. 'People who score high on neuroticism might appreciate being given privacy and independence for their workouts, and this group really benefits from the stress-reducing effects of exercise,' she says. Ronca also notes that personality traits can interact with each other. 'A person who is very neurotic might be less likely to exercise due to fear of being judged, but a person who is both neurotic and conscientious might be more likely to exercise because they know about the health benefit of exercise,' she says. 'So, they might actually become more anxious if they miss their workout.' Asking yourself how you fall on these five traits might be the magic key to finding a workout that actually works for you (and your brain). There are a few reasons why personality plays such a crucial role in workout drive. 'We all have different characteristics that determine our behavior, as well as our preferences,' says Ronca. So, if you can understand your own personality, it may help you to make more informed decisions about the best activities for you, she explains. Tapping into your personality also just allows you to have a better sense of what may be good for you, says Thea Gallagher, PsyD, clinical associate professor at NYU Langone Health and cohost of the Mind in View podcast. 'Just doing things because we know it's good for us doesn't tend to work out well,' she says. 'The best motivator is one where you're reinforced by joy or it's something you really enjoy doing.' This is crucial for sticking with workouts, says Dani Singer, CPT, founder of Fit2Go Personal Training. 'Trainers who consistently achieve the best results with their clients don't overlook the 'personal' aspect of personal training,' he says. 'They often train multiple clients with the same fitness goal, using different 'trait-friendly' modalities.' Gallagher stresses that personalities tend to exist on a spectrum, so you may find that you have some introvert and extravert qualities. But there are certain signs that you may be more prone to one category over the other. 'Extraverts tend to seek stimulation,' Ronca says. 'If you like bright colors, loud music, being around a group of friends, and you enjoy being part of a crowd and performing in front of others, it's quite possible you might be an extravert.' On the other hand, introverts don't really require stimulation, according to Ronca. 'They are more sensitive to stimuli, so they prefer quiet spaces, and maybe a relaxed meal with one or two close friends,' she says. There's also a category called an 'ambivert,' which is when you're a little of both personality traits. 'Some people might thrive in social environments but then need some quiet time to recover and be on their own,' Ronca says. Again, personality types tend to exist on a spectrum, and it can be hard to put yourself in a box. But Gallagher says the findings are a good reminder that not all workouts are for everyone. 'Give it the old college try, but if you find that you don't like a certain style of working out, try to think of something else,' she says. 'Eventually, you'll find something that works for you.' You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
Health Line
7 days ago
- Health
- Health Line
Matching Your Workouts to Your Personality Could Help You Enjoy Exercise
Your personality may play a role in the type of exercise you prefer, according to a new study. Some personality traits were associated with greater baseline fitness levels, while others predicted greater enjoyment of specific types of exercise. The research could help to tailor exercise programs to individual preference, leading to greater satisfaction and consistency. If you find it difficult to stay motivated at the gym, a new study suggests that matching your workouts to your personality type could lead to more consistent, more rewarding sessions. Researchers at University College London found that personality traits influence exercise enjoyment and preference. The study was published on July 7 in the journal Frontiers in Psychology. 'We could potentially use this knowledge to tailor physical activity recommendations to the individual — and hopefully help them to become and remain more active,' said Flaminia Ronca, PhD, first author of the study, in an accompanying press release. The study compared participants' baseline fitness levels and fitness outcomes, along with enjoyment and exercise preferences, across the five major personality trait domains. The ' Big Five ' personality traits include: conscientiousness agreeableness neuroticism openness extraversion While everyone's personalities are unique, these core traits have been widely used by researchers for decades. 'It's an innovative study because they are exploring a novel idea: How someone's personality could indicate how they exercise,' said Brad Donohue, PhD, a professor of psychology and creator of The Optimum Performance Program in Sports (TOPPS) at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. 'The findings really get you thinking. If someone is introverted or extroverted, maybe that is something they should consider when it comes to a workout routine,' he added. Donohue was not involved in the research. How personality impacts exercise preference The researchers examined how the Big Five personality traits influence key aspects of an exercise routine. For example, do certain traits correlate with a preference for higher- or lower-intensity workouts? They recruited 132 volunteers from the general public, representing diverse backgrounds and fitness levels. Participants were randomly assigned to an eight-week exercise program — combining cycling and strength training — or to a control group that performed brief stretching sessions. Baseline fitness was measured via tests such as push-ups, planks, and VO2 max. Participants also reported their perceived stress levels. Personality traits were measured with a standard Big Five survey, asking respondents to rate statements such as whether they make friends easily or consistently complete tasks. A total of 86 participants completed the study. Regardless of personality type, all who finished the exercise program improved their fitness, doing more push-ups and achieving higher VO2 max than at baseline. Stratifying participants by personality resulted in intriguing associations between those traits and exercise behaviors. At baseline, both extraversion and conscientiousness predicted higher baseline fitness. Neuroticism, on the other hand, was associated with poorer heart rate recovery. Extraverts preferred higher-intensity workouts, such as HIIT sessions and VO₂ max cycling tests. Participants scoring high in neuroticism — which describes a proclivity to be anxious or insecure — preferred light exercise at home, rather than being observed in a lab. They were also less likely to record their heart rate data, which also suggests a potential preference for private workout conditions. Participants high in agreeableness preferred an 'easy long' cycling ride. Interestingly, conscientiousness wasn't associated with a preference for any particular form of exercise. Since this trait is a sign of persistence, grit, and goal-setting, the authors suggest that these individuals are strongly motivated by the fitness and health outcomes of exercise and less concerned with enjoyment. Personality also predicted stress-related outcomes, but only neuroticism showed an effect. Participants high in neuroticism were the only group to experience reduced stress from the exercise intervention. 'Exercise reduces stress. If someone is anxious, we know exercise is going to help them. So it would make sense that they would show greater improvements than someone that's not demonstrating those characteristics,' said Donohue. Motivation is key to workout consistency While the study makes a compelling case for the role that personality can have in exercise enjoyment and preference, Donohue notes that it's just one piece of the puzzle to helping people find satisfaction with their workouts. 'The task at hand becomes how do we get you motivated? It could be that certain types of personality traits are more motivated to work out under certain circumstances. But at the end of the day, those are generalizations,' Donohue said. Importantly, he noted, that individuals would rarely only embody a single dominant personality trait. Instead, people exist on a spectrum of these traits, which makes it more difficult to predict how this would affect exercise preference. Would an individual with apparently contrary traits, such as high extroversion and high neuroticism, enjoy a workout in a crowded gym class? It's not clear from identifying these traits alone. Instead, Donohue suggests, people can assess what type of exercise works for them by asking other general questions about their preferences. For example: What types of exercise have worked for you in the past? Do you prefer to workout with a partner or alone? What is your current routine? How would you describe your fitness or athletic goals? 'The best predictor is past behavior. When it comes to someone's workout routine, I really emphasize the things that they've already had success with. If someone has already been very successful with a certain type of exercise, that shows they are motivated by that particular type of workout,' Donohue said.
The Independent
7 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Introverted or extroverted? Researchers say different workouts give better result bases on personality
Matching your workouts to your personality could give you better results, according to researchers. For example, people who tend to be more introverted and negative may need frequent breaks and a private workout, while those who are more extroverted can reap the benefits of team sports and high-intensity classes, such as Barry's Bootcamp or SoulCycle. People who are more open have been found to engage in exercise regardless of whether or not they enjoyed it. 'Our brains are wired in different ways, which drives our behaviors and how we interact with our environment,' Dr. Flaminia Ronca, of University College London's Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health, explained in a statement. 'So it's not surprising that personality would also influence how we respond to different intensities of exercise.' In the U.S., that may spur rising obesity rates. One in five children and two in five adults are affected by the chronic condition, leaving them at higher risk of many diseases. In 2020, just over 24 percent of U.S. adults met the 2018 national physical activity guidelines. A new analysis from children's health centers in Philadelphia and Los Angeles found that the health of American kids deteriorated across a broad spectrum of indicators between 2007 and 2023. To reach these conclusions, Ronca and her co-authors studied the behaviors of 86 participants in the U.K. They tested their baseline fitness in a lab before splitting them into two groups. One group was instructed to undertake an eight-week home fitness plan of cycling and strength training, and another continued their usual lifestyle. All participants filled out a questionnaire regarding how much they had enjoyed their participation in the study. The researchers particularly examined five personality traits - extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, neuroticism, and openness. 'Understanding personality factors in designing and recommending physical activity programs is likely to be very important in determining how successful a program is, and whether people will stick with it and become fitter,' senior author Prof Paul Burgess, from the university's Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, said in a statement. They noted that the relationship between stress levels and change in fitness, finding that stress levels of both groups were similar before the study. After undergoing the home fitness plan, people who tended to be more neurotic exhibited a strong reduction in their stress levels. A survey from researchers in Ohio earlier this year found that 45 percent of U.S. adults are stressed at least once a week due to the news and social media, and that 16 percent of those respondents reported feeling stressed every day. Furthermore, workplace stress has been reported to cause 120,000 deaths in the U.S. each year, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 'It's fantastic news, as it highlights that those who benefit the most from a reduction in stress respond very well to exercise,' Ronca said. Previous research from the University of Missouri has shown a correlation between personality and physical function. 'We hope that if people can find physical activities that they enjoy they will more readily choose to do them,' Burgess added.
New York Post
08-07-2025
- Health
- New York Post
These 5 personality traits can predict what kind of exercise you prefer — including the best workout for anxious people
So much for nama-staying in bed. Exercise is said to be the best habit for aging well — even a lazy, five-minute workout can improve muscle strength and heart health. But if you're struggling to get going, a new study suggests that aligning your fitness routine with your personality type can significantly improve the odds that you'll stick with it. A new study suggests the secret to sticking to a fitness regime could be your personality type. Drazen – 'We know that the global population is becoming increasingly sedentary. You often hear about people trying to become more active, but struggling to make lasting changes,' said Flaminia Ronca, a researcher at the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health (ISEH) in the UK. 'In this study, we wanted to understand how personality can influence this to support the development of effective interventions for changes in health behavior.' The research team assessed 132 volunteers randomly assigned to an eight-week cycling and strength-training program or a resting control group. Participants completed detailed questionnaires measuring the 'Big Five' personality traits: extraversion, openness, conscientiousness, agreeableness and neuroticism. While everyone who finished the program — 86 people — got fitter, how much they enjoyed the workouts depended on who they were on the inside. 'We found some clear links between personality traits and the type of exercise the participants enjoyed most, which I think is important because we could potentially use this knowledge to tailor physical activity recommendations to the individual — and hopefully help them to become and remain more active,' Ronca said. Conscientious types tended to have better all-around fitness levels, but they didn't necessarily enjoy one style versus another. twinsterphoto – We're Tracking Prime Day Live! Unlock exclusive NYP codes and real-time deals on everyday must-haves. See Your Deals Extroverts preferred exercise that puts their big energy to good use, such as high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and the type of all-out cycling sprints that can wreck you in spin class. They were, however, less likely to follow through. Neurotic, anxious types favored more low-key workouts — and, unsurprisingly, they disliked being monitored, making them perhaps a better fit for solo, at-home programs. They did, however, experience the biggest reduction in stress, implying people prone to anxiety might reap the biggest mental health benefits from exercise. Conscientious types tended to have better all-around fitness levels, but they didn't necessarily enjoy one style versus another — probably because they viewed exercise as something good for them, not something designed to be fun. 'Extroverts often prefer team sports or group fitness classes, and they get energy from fellow exercisers,' Dr. Blaise Aguirre, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at McLean Hospital in Arlington, Massachusetts, who wasn't involved with the study, told NBC News. 'On the other hand, others who are more conscientious would be drawn to structured, schedule-based activities — say, a specific class at a gym where a specific and predictable routine is followed — and this is because this fits their organized, goal-oriented nature.' Meanwhile, people with an open spirit may gravitate toward varied or unconventional workouts, while those with agreeable personalities are more likely to enjoy a relaxed, steady-paced bike ride, the study found. The findings were published Tuesday in the journal Frontiers in Psychology. One thing's for sure: if you want to work out more, find something that brings you joy.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Matching your workouts to your personality could give you better results
Matching your workouts to your personality could give you better results, according to researchers. For example, people who tend to be more introverted and negative may need frequent breaks and a private workout, while those who are more extroverted can reap the benefits of team sports and high-intensity classes, such as Barry's Bootcamp or SoulCycle. People who are more open have been found to engage in exercise regardless of whether or not they enjoyed it. 'Our brains are wired in different ways, which drives our behaviors and how we interact with our environment,' Dr. Flaminia Ronca, of University College London's Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health, explained in a statement. 'So it's not surprising that personality would also influence how we respond to different intensities of exercise.' In the U.S., that may spur rising obesity rates. One in five children and two in five adults are affected by the chronic condition, leaving them at higher risk of many diseases. In 2020, just over 24 percent of U.S. adults met the 2018 national physical activity guidelines. A new analysis from children's health centers in Philadelphia and Los Angeles found that the health of American kids deteriorated across a broad spectrum of indicators between 2007 and 2023. To reach these conclusions, Ronca and her co-authors studied the behaviors of 86 participants in the U.K. They tested their baseline fitness in a lab before splitting them into two groups. One group was instructed to undertake an eight-week home fitness plan of cycling and strength training, and another continued their usual lifestyle. All participants filled out a questionnaire regarding how much they had enjoyed their participation in the study. The researchers particularly examined five personality traits - extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, neuroticism, and openness. 'Understanding personality factors in designing and recommending physical activity programs is likely to be very important in determining how successful a program is, and whether people will stick with it and become fitter,' senior author Prof Paul Burgess, from the university's Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, said in a statement. They noted that the relationship between stress levels and change in fitness, finding that stress levels of both groups were similar before the study. After undergoing the home fitness plan, people who tended to be more neurotic exhibited a strong reduction in their stress levels. A survey from researchers in Ohio earlier this year found that 45 percent of U.S. adults are stressed at least once a week due to the news and social media, and that 16 percent of those respondents reported feeling stressed every day. Furthermore, workplace stress has been reported to cause 120,000 deaths in the U.S. each year, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 'It's fantastic news, as it highlights that those who benefit the most from a reduction in stress respond very well to exercise,' Ronca said. Previous research from the University of Missouri has shown a correlation between personality and physical function. 'We hope that if people can find physical activities that they enjoy they will more readily choose to do them,' Burgess added. The results were published on Tuesday in the journal Frontiers in Psychology.
