# Associations between cognitive–personality traits and perceptual responses during low-volume high-intensity interval exercise in overweight-to-obese adults

## TL;DR

This study explores how personality traits influence emotional and physical responses to high-intensity exercise in overweight-to-obese adults.

## Contribution

The study identifies how cognitive-personality traits affect perceptual responses during low-volume high-intensity interval exercise.

## Key findings

- Affective valence was strongly linked to lower perceived exertion and higher enjoyment during exercise.
- Goal orientation and hardiness correlated with more positive emotional responses and less perceived exertion.
- These associations grew stronger over time, suggesting improved psychological tolerance with repeated exercise.

## Abstract

Low-volume high-intensity interval exercise (Lv-HIIE) has been proposed as a time-efficient, effective training approach for adults with overweight or obesity. However, its perceptual tolerability may depend on cognitive–personality traits influencing emotional and exertional regulation. This study examined how these traits relate to perceptual responses during Lv-HIIE.

Thirty-two physically inactive adults (BMI = 28.21 ± 2.93 kg·m2; 11 males, 21 females; age = 28.3 ± 4.9 years) completed a 10-week Lv-HIIE program of 30 supervised sessions. Perceptual measures of affective valence, arousal, perceived exertion, recovery, and enjoyment were collected in every session, and data from the 1st, 15th, and 30th sessions were analyzed as representative points. Goal orientation and personality hardiness were assessed before the intervention, and Pearson’s correlations examined associations between perceptual responses and cognitive–personality variables.

Across the intervention, affective valence showed strong negative correlations with heart rate and perceived exertion, and positive correlations with enjoyment (r = −0.82 to −0.66, p < 0.01). Goal orientation and hardiness were moderately to strongly associated with higher affective valence (r = 0.59–0.65) and greater enjoyment (r = 0.38–0.56), while correlating negatively with perceived exertion (r = −0.38 to −0.56). These associations became progressively stronger toward later sessions, indicating adaptive affective regulation and enhanced psychological tolerance with repeated Lv-HIIE exposure.

Individuals with higher goal orientation and greater hardiness exhibited more positive affective and enjoyment responses together with lower perceived exertion. Overall, these findings suggest that cognitive–personality traits contribute to perceptual and affective regulation during high-intensity exercise.