Abstract

This study investigated the discrimination power of the clinical scales of the MMPI in combination with selected biochemical and physiological variables to differentiate between two discrete high- and low-fit groups of normal middle-aged males. As expected, none of the psychological variables in isolation could discriminate between the two fitness groups. However, a multivariate discriminant function analysis revealed that a linear combination of psychological, biochemical, and physiological variables significantly discriminated between the two groups. Of particular importance were depression, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and cholesterol. These data lend support to the notion that exercise is a multivariate phenomenon and that high- and low-fit groups do not merely differ biophysiologically, but also with regard to emotional stability. Verf.-Referat