The Effect of Pre-task Stimulative Music on Physical Performance and the Influence of Personality

Music has many functions and one of it is enhancing physical performance. In addition, listening to stimulative music prior to physical activity has shown an ergogenic effect. However, it is unclear how different personality types may react differently to the effect of music. This research examines the research question: Does personality moderates the relationship between stimulative music and physical performance? Personality traits were operationalized in terms of the Big Five Inventory. Moreover, stimulative music was defined in terms of 3 non-released unfamiliar songs with a fast tempo. Physical performance was measured by using hand grip strength and a wall sit. One hundred participants from Maastricht University were recruited for this study. Stimulative music added statistically significantly to the prediction of grip strength, b = .99, p < .001. However, personality traits of the Big Five Inventory (extraversion, agreeableness, consciousness, neuroticism and opened to experience) did not influence this relation. Therefore, it was concluded that personality has no influence on music-performance relation.