Personality correlates of health behaviours among women who exercise recreationally, in the interdisciplinary spirit of health pedagogy

Abstract

The aim of the study was to find relationships between health behaviours and personality traits (according to the Big Five personality model) in women who exercise recreationally. The study involved 125 women. Health Behaviour Inventory questionnaire developed by Juczyński and the NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) developed by Costa and McCrae, in the Polish adaptation, were used to conduct the study. Significant correlations were found between the general level of health-related behaviour and all personality dimensions, with a negative correlation coefficient only for neuroticism. Similar correlations were also observed for individual categories of health behaviour (healthy eating habits, preventive behaviour, positive mental attitude and health practices). One cluster was identified in relation to higher scores for health-promoting behaviours, i.e. the personality profile: low neuroticism, high extraversion, high openness to experience, high agreeableness and high conscientiousness. The correlations found between the intensity of health-promoting behaviours and personality traits confirm the validity of the research conducted and the implementation of educational activities in this area.

Keywords

• Health pedagogy
• healthy behaviour
• personality
• sport
• women.