Overview

• An eight-week trial of 132 adults at University College London linked each Big Five trait to distinct workout preferences, adherence patterns and fitness outcomes.
• Extroverts reported higher enjoyment in high-intensity sessions but were less likely to finish the full program or achieve superior fitness gains.
• Participants high in neuroticism opted for low-intensity, private workouts and were the only group to experience significant stress reduction.
• Openness and conscientiousness predicted stronger completion rates, while agreeable individuals favored longer, gentler activities such as easy cycling.
• Calls are growing for further trials and practical frameworks to scale personality-based exercise recommendations into public health interventions.