Influence of Personality Traits, Locus of Causality, and Motivation on Exercise Adherence

Abstract

An individual's health can be improved by addressing negative behaviors, thereby mitigating or reducing risk factors associated with certain disease processes. This study is designed to identify the relationship of personality traits, locus of causality orientations, and motivational attitudes to exercise adherence. Three hundred and seven participants from a national company that promotes healthy living through behavior change responded to an online survey to assess their exercise stage of change, Big 5 personality, locus of causality, and exercise motivation. It was expected and found that the respondent's personality type, locus of causality orientation, and motivational attitudes would individually predict the respondents' exercise Stage of Change. In the overall model, personality traits, motivational attitudes, and locus of causality orientations were regressed on an individual's self-reported Stage of Change for exercise. The constructs of autonomy, LOC for exercise, intrinsic motivation, and introjected motivation significantly predicted an individual's stage of change. This understanding of an individual's personality type and how these personality types interact with motivation and locus of causality will assist health care providers in the determination of the best course of action in increasing or maintaining exercise adherence.