EFFECT OF EXERCISE ON COGNITIVE PROCESSING AND PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS IN ADULT MEN

The purposes of this study were to investigate (1) the effect of a four-month exercise program on cognitive processing and personality characteristics; (2) the relationships among physiological, cognitive, and personality domains; and (3) the ability of physiological, cognitive processing, and personality characteristics measures in discriminating between physically active and non-active individuals. Subjects were 48 male volunteers, 24-68 years old. Among these subjects, 30 participated in a four-month exercise program which was held three times per week for one and one-half hours, with major emphasis placed on calisthenics and progressive running. Eighteen other subjects did not participate in the exercise program, but were advised to maintain their daily routine activities. Data were collected from both exercisers and non-exercisers at the beginning and end of a four-month period on 24 variables relating to physiological, cognitive, and personality dimensions. Physiological variables dealt with cardiovascular fitness at different metabolic stress levels. Cognitive variables dealt with successive and simultaneous cognitive processes. Personality variables dealt with emotional stability. Univariate and multivariate statistical approaches were used in analyzing the data. The univariate approach included ANOVA, t-test, and correlation analysis. The multivariate approach included MANOVA, Hotelling T(\u272)-test, factor analysis, canonical correlation, and discriminant analysis. The findings suggested that a four-month exercise program had beneficial effects on successive and simultaneous cognitive processing. Personality changes were dependent on cognitve and physiological changes. Physiological, cognitive, and personality domains were highly related. The combined physiological, cognitive processing, and personality characteristics measures were powerful in discriminating between physically active and non-active individuals