Chapter eight examines the patterns of Terman patients’ exercise habits over the course of their lives and how the severity and frequency in which one engages in physical activity affects their longevity. Evidence suggests that individuals who were reported as highly active in their childhood remained highly active well into adulthood, while those who led more sedentary lives as a child continued to participate in more sedentary activities as an adult. Furthermore, the study show that there exists a correlation between those who actively engaged in exercise throughout their lives tended to be sociable, well-liked group leaders while those who did not were catagorised as more neurotic and less well-adjusted. This may be attributed to how many forms of physical activity manifest as team-orientated engagements, so it is reasonable to conclude those who are outgoing and amiable would possess high-energy and would therefore gravitate towards sports as an outlet to expend such energy and surround oneself in a highly communicative environment.
Growing up I was pushed heavily into exercising. I was required by my parents to play outside for at least an hour or two each day. Not so much sports in the traditional sense, but rather, I engaged in individual pursuits such as running, biking, skating, and rollerblading. Additionally, I used to be very active in playing basketball, tennis, and the occasional football – however, I mostly practiced alone on the court or against a wall. Being that I am an only child growing up with less than active friends, it was not often where I got to engage in typically team-based sports alongside others. Some days it was very fun and some days it was painful waiting for time to pass as I moved (my father who supervised me would tell me to get back to it if I had taken too long of a break). In my later years, my parents became less strict and given that I had substantially more work and social opportunities going into middle and high-school, my frequency of physical activity declined. In my college years, I’ve tried picking up running and weight-training again. As opposed to concern over overall health and appearance, fun, however, is now never a factor anymore. I do miss the days where I did enjoy exercising for fun over other more sedentary activities such as videogames. Perhaps I have not yet found the activity for me but I am curious about how this transition from highly active to more sedentary (but still wishing to be more active) will affect me in terms of personality and longevity well into my adulthood since it is not as direct a correlation (as with active to active or sedentary to sedentary).
I would agree that it is reasonable to say that people who tend to be outgoing are more likely to gravitate towards sports where they are interacting with others. In addition I think that one possible reason for the evidence that you talk about, is it easier to keep up the routine of physical activity when you engage in physical activity as a child, then if you were not engaged in physical activity as a child.
I am also an only child, and growing I up I also played some tennis, but also some soccer. I never was in sports in middle or high school partially because I wasn’t interested in playing sports and maybe thats one reason for not being more active now. Although I do want to be more active. I also am curious if not being physically active as a child will affect me later as well as my longevity?