Lingnan University study finds different levels of well-being from ultradistance exercise depend on personality

In recent years, marathons and ultradistance endurance events have grown in popularity, and are widely regarded as beneficial to both physical and mental health. A recent study conducted by the Department of Psychology at Lingnan University shows that individual personality traits play an important role in the psychological well-being derived from exercise. Contrary to common belief, individuals with higher levels of extraversion did not show a significant increase in subjective well-being as their participation in ultradistance endurance events increased. In fact, those more open to the experience were also more likely to translate such demanding trials into improved overall well-being. These findings offer new insights to people choosing exercise and activities that best suit their personalities.
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Lingnan University

The Lingnan University psychology research team studies hikers in the ultradistance endurance event Trailwalker, and finds that different personality traits influence the level of well-being gained from exercise.

Lingnan University

The research team, led by Dr Bill Chan Cheuk-long, Lecturer of the Department of Psychology at Lingnan University, and Prof Francis Cheung Yue-lok, Associate Professor of the Department of Psychology, together with Hui Qiuyuan, a graduate of Business Psychology, examined participants in Trailwalker, Hong Kong’s largest ultradistance hiking fundraising event, in order to explore the relationship between exercise and subjective well-being. The event requires teams of four to complete a 100-kilometre route along the MacLehose Trail within 48 hours, which requires substantial physical exertion and exposure to various environmental challenges.

 

 

 

Between January and May in 2024, the research team asked 360 adults taking part to complete an online questionnaire measuring key personality traits. The researchers then analysed the association between the frequency of Trailwalker participation and their subjective well-being.

 

 

 

Results showed that the positive association between Trailwalker participation and subjective well-being was affected by openness to experience—the relationship was stronger in participants with higher levels of openness, who tended to enjoy novelty and uncertainty, allowing them to see prolonged and unpredictable endurance as a meaningful and enriching experience, thereby gaining greater psychological well-being. Extraversion, however, did not moderate the Trailwalker participation–subjective well-being relationship. Even with increased participation, individuals with higher extraversion did not report a comparable improvement in well-being.

 

 

 

The research team explained that ultradistance endurance events typically involve prolonged physical strain, extreme weather conditions, rugged terrain, and sustained team coordination, all of which place considerable demands on self-regulation and mental resilience. Marathoners with less openness to this may be more prone to negative appraisals of unexpected stressors, resulting in less pronounced gains in well-being. Dr Bill Chan Cheuk-long suggested that individuals with higher extraversion may be better suited to sports with greater interaction and more immediate feedback, such as football or basketball where frequent social engagement may foster positive emotions more readily.

 

 

 

He also noted that the findings stress the complexity of the relationship between exercise and psychological well-being, and cautioned against an assumption that “more exercise necessarily leads to greater happiness”. The study provides empirical evidence that may inform future efforts to promote sports participation and support athletes’ psychological well-being.

 

 

 

Dr Chan added “Sports psychologists may consider developing personality-focused training programmes such as psychological preparation and personal development interventions for ultradistance athletes, to improve their mental adaptation to prolonged challenges. Our findings also open new avenues for future research into how emerging sports, including esports, Hyrox, and pickleball, influence the well-being of participants with different personality traits. By recognising individual differences, people can make more informed decisions about playing high-intensity or extreme sports, increasing their positive psychological value and holistic well-being through exercise.”