Regular participation in recreational physical activity is a key determinant of population health, yet behavioral heterogeneity across adults remains insufficiently understood. This study examined how demographic, anthropometric, and psychological characteristics relate to exercise type (H1), weekly frequency (H2), daily duration (H3), motivational regulation (H4), personality-based differences in exercise modality (H5), and multidimensional behavioral clustering (H6) within a large sample of physically active recreationally active adults. A total of 1564 participants (age: M = 33.65, SD = 9.83 years) completed standardized questionnaires assessing physical activity behavior, body mass index, weight history, personality traits (Five-Factor Model), and motivational regulation (BREQ-2). Non-parametric tests, multinomial logistic regression, and cluster analysis were applied. Gender and age consistently predicted exercise frequency and duration (H1–H3), while higher BMI and reported weight problems were strongly associated with health- and appearance-related motives (H4). Personality traits were linked to exercise modality but showed limited associations with motivational regulation (H5), suggesting that activity preferences reflect relatively stable psychological profiles, whereas motives are more context-dependent. Cluster analysis identified three distinct behavioral profiles combining demographic, physical, and psychological attributes (H6), with meaningful differences in exercise modality, duration, and motivational orientation. These findings provide preliminary evidence for the utility of behavioral segmentation in recreational physical activity and highlight the potential of tailored public health strategies that account for demographic, anthropometric, and personality-based differences in engagement patterns.
Tsartsapakis et al. (2026) studied this question.