Personality characteristics of barefoot runners: openness and conscientiousness as the defining traits

• Published in: Sport sciences for health 2017-04, Vol.13 (1), p.33-38
• Main Authors: Hanson, Nicholas, Buckworth, Janet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Demographics; Human Physiology; Marathons; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Original Article; Personality; Personality traits; Physiology; Population; Running; Sports Medicine
• ISSN: 1824-7490; 1825-1234
• DOI: 10.1007/s11332-016-0311-z

Purpose Personality traits may play a part in whether a person chooses to run (or not run) barefoot. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to characterize the personality variables of this population and compare them to shod runners and to the general population. Methods An online survey was administered to runners who had completed a race of at least 13.1 miles in the previous 2 years. Participants were asked about their running experience and were classified as either barefoot or shod. The Big Five Inventory was used to assess the five dimensions of personality traits: extraversion, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism. Independent samples t tests were used to compare the means of the two groups on the five personality dimensions. Results The mean age of the respondents was 39.8 ± 11.3 years (range 18–80). Of the 692 runners who completed the survey, 238 reported they had run barefoot. These runners scored significantly higher on the trait of openness and lower on conscientiousness. There were no differences between the groups in agreeableness, extraversion or neuroticism. Conclusions These results suggest that runners who have attempted barefoot running tend to be more open (imaginative, unconventional, curious) and less conscientious (responsible, dependable, orderly) than shod runners.