Association of Personality on Changes in Weekday Sitting Time: Cross-Sectional and Prospective Evaluation

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the prospective association of personality typology on changes in sitting (sedentary) time. Methods: Young adults (N = 126; Mage = 21.6 yrs) completed self-report assessments of personality and sitting time at baseline and at an approximate 5-month follow-up. At baseline, personality was assessed via the Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) questionnaire. At both baseline and the follow-up period, sitting time was self-reported using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form. Results: Both extraversion (β = –5.8; 95% CI: –11.7, 0.21; p = 0.05) and conscientiousness (β = –5.7; 95% CI: –11.3, –0.2; p = 0.04) were inversely associated with baseline sitting time. Regarding the prospective results, the only personality trait associated with changes in sitting time was openness to experience. Independent of changes in physical activity as well as other potential confounders, for every 1 unit increase in openness to experience, there was an associated 6.6 min/day increased change score in sitting time over the 5-month follow-up period (β = 6.6; 95% CI: 0.13, 13.0; p = 0.04). Conclusion: Personality was differentially associated with sitting time based on the study design, with the personality trait of openness to experience being prospectively associated with increases in sitting time.