ReviewThe Gerontologist2026
Personality traits and physical activity in middle-aged and older adults: a rapid review of evidence and interventions.
Review in The Gerontologist, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
objectivesPromoting physical activity (PA) is essential for health in middle-aged and older adults, yet global activity levels remain low. While personality is a recognized determinant of PA in the general adult population, personality-PA associations and personality-informed interventions in middle-aged and older adults remain under-explored. This rapid review aimed to synthesize evidence on Five-Factor Model personality traits and PA outcomes in adults aged ≥40 years and to explore trait-tailored interventions for this group. RESEARCH DESIGN AND
methodsFollowing PRISMA guidelines, systematic searches of PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library were conducted through May 2025. A narrative synthesis approach was used to analyze eligible observational or intervention studies. Methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool Version 2018.
results19 studies met the inclusion criteria. Extraversion was consistently linked to higher PA across age groups, while neuroticism exhibited negative associations primarily in middle and older adulthood. Conscientiousness demonstrated positive relationships that strengthened with age, and openness was associated with PA primarily during transitional life stages. Evidence for agreeableness remained inconclusive. Only 2 PA interventions incorporated personality traits, highlighting a critical research gap. These preliminary findings suggest that intervention efficacy may depend on traits, with a digital self-control program benefiting highly conscientious individuals and an exergaming program particularly motivating less extraverted participants. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Personality traits influence PA engagement in middle-aged and older adults, with relationships varying by trait and life stage. These findings provide a foundation for developing personality-informed interventions aimed at enhancing PA engagement in aging populations.
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