Physical activity, Mediterranean diet and personality domains

Abstract

Introduction: Several investigations have found association between different lifestyle variables such as quantity and quality of physical activity, adherence to a healthy or unhealthy diet and personality factors. Objectives: The aim of our study was to analyze the association between physical activity and adherence to Mediterranean diet with personality domains in a Mediterranean cohort. Methods: This study is part of the SUN (Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra) project, a prospective cohort study formed by Spanish university graduates with more than 22,500 participants. At baseline, participants complete a questionnaire that includes lifestyle questions such as dietary habits and physical activity. Biannually, information is update. Personality is assessed with the PID-5 (Personality Inventory for DSM-5) after 16 years of follow-up. Leisure-time physical activity and dietary intake were collected through validated questionnaires. Leisure-time activities were computed by assigning a metabolic equivalent score (METs) to each activity, multiplied by the time spent for each activity and summing up all activities. Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet was calculated using the MEDAS score (14 points). Both, physical activity and adherence to the Mediterranean diet were categorized into quartiles. Generalized linear models were fitted to calculate sex and age adjusted means of each domain of personality according to physical activity and diet adherence levels. Results: participants who were less physically active (quartil1) showed higher levels of Negative Affect (Mean: 5.56, p: 0.002). Less adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern (quartil1) was associated with higher scores in Antagonism (Mean: 1.64, p: 0.004) and Disinhibition (Mean: 2.18, p: 0.051). Conclusions: Maintaining unhealthy dietary patterns is related to behaviors such as interpersonal conflict, impulsive behavior and instant gratification in the SUN cohort. Engaging in less physical activity level was associated with the tendency of experience negative emotions such us emotional lability, anxiousness and hostility.