Personality, physical activity, and symptoms of anxiety and depression: the HUNT study

To analyze the association between physical activity (PA), symptoms of depression and anxiety, and personality traits. Cross-sectional study from a Norwegian population-based survey conducted in the period 2006-2008. The sample consisted of a total of 38,743 subjects aged a parts per thousand yen19 years, 56.1 % women and 43.9 % men. Demographic variables, PA, depression and anxiety (The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and personality (Eysenck Personality Questionnaire) were assessed by self-reporting measurements. Individuals who reported moderate and high PA had significantly lower scores on depression and anxiety compared with less physically active individuals (p < 0.05). Significantly lower risk of HADS-defined depression and anxiety was associated with frequency, duration, and intensity of activity among women (p < 0.05), and significantly lower risk of HADS-defined depression was associated with frequency, duration, and intensity of activity among men (p < 0.05). There was a significant linear trend between extroversion and levels of PA (p < 0.01) and between neuroticism and PA (p < 0.01). Subjects reporting regular leisure-time PA were less likely to report symptoms of HADS-defined depression and anxiety. Personality may be an underlying factor in explaining this association.