Self-Control is Associated with Physical Activity and Fitness among Young Males

Abstract

The personality trait self-control has been associated with various adaptive outcomes. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to explore whether self-control is associated with self-reported leisure time physical activity (LTPA), Body Mass Index (BMI), muscle-fitness and aerobic fitness among young men. Participants (482 male conscripts; age M = 20) completed a questionnaire and participated in anthropometric measurements in the DefenceNutri Study, and took standard aerobic fitness and muscle fitness tests as part of their military training. Self-control was found to have a positive association with LTPA, aerobic fitness, and muscle fitness, and a negative association with BMI. Self-control predicted aerobic and muscular fitness regardless of BMI, and remained a significant and independent predictor of aerobic fitness (R² _adj. = .28, β = .10, p < .05), but not muscle fitness, when LTPA and BMI were controlled for.

Keywords:

• self-control
• self-regulation
• physical activity
• fitness
• young men
• Body Mass Index (BMI); leisure time physical activity (LTPA)

Notes

NOTE. ^aScoring of 12-Minutes Running Test: Excellent > 3000 m, Good > 2600 m, Satisfactory >2200 m, Poor < 2200 m.

^bScoring of Muscle Fitness Test: Excellent = 13–15 points, Good = 9–12 points, Satisfactory 5–8 points, Poor = 0–4 points.

^cLeisure time physical activity was measured categorically.

NOTE. ^aLTPA = Leisure time physical activity; ^bBMI = Body mass index. ***p < .001.

NOTE. ^aBMI = Body mass index; ^bLTPA = Leisure time physical activity. *p<.05. ***p <. 001.

NOTE. ^aBMI = Body mass index; ^bLTPA = Leisure time physical activity. **p < .01. ***p < .001.