Extraversion-Targeted Interventions to Promote Exercise: The Low Efficacy of Personality-Congruent Attempts

Increasing the physical activity levels of American adults is a national public health goal (Flegal, Carroll, Ogden, & Curtin, 2010). Previous research (Hoyt et al., 2009, Rhodes, 2006) indicates that extraversion has a significant independent relationship with levels of physical activity. The present study explored the possibility that interventions to promote physical activity may be more effective when they are targeted to an individual\u27s level of extraversion. Participants were 48 freshman college students who received informational brochures targeted to extraverts or introverts. Time spent exercising, attitude, perceived behavioral control, social norms, and intention to exercise were measured pre-intervention and four weeks post-intervention. No significant changes in these variables were found based on whether or not participant extraversion matched the intervention the participant received. A significantly more positive affective attitude towards exercise, F(2,47) = 4.41, p = 0.018, was found for those who received the extravert intervention regardless of individual extraversion levels. These results warrant further study into extraversion and its use in promoting exercise