DIFFERENCES IN PERSONALITY TRAITS BETWEEN ATHLETES AND NON-ATHLETES

Ivana Zubić; Dejan Milenković

doi:10.58984/smbic240201087z

Authors

Ivana Zubić Faculty of Sport, University ’’Union – Nikola Tesla’’, Narodnih heroja 30, New Belgrade, Serbia Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8539-9214
Dejan Milenković Faculty of Sport, University ’’Union – Nikola Tesla’’, Narodnih heroja 30, New Belgrade, Serbia Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9341-0890

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58984/smbic240201087z

Keywords:

personality traits, athletes, non-athletes

Abstract

The aim of this research is to examine the differences in personality traits between athletes and non-athletes. The research sample consists of 136 athletes who participate in sports competitions, and 100 non-athletes. The sample consists of 76 athletes of individual sports (archery, kayak, tennis) and 60 athletes of collective sports (basketball, football, American football, volleyball). Personality traits were measured by HEXACO-60. The results showed statistically significant differences in extraversion (p < 0.00), emotionality (p < 0.00), conscientiousness (p < 0.00) and openness to new experiences (p < 0.05). Namely, athletes have higher extraversion and conscientiousness, and lower emotionality and openness to new experiences. Extraversion is more pronounced in athletes (M =3.47) than in non-athletes (M = 2.88), and conscientiousness is also higher in athletes (M = 3.70) than in non-athletes (M = 3.31). And emotionality is lower in athletes (M = 2.90) than in non-athletes (M = 3.39), just as openness to new experiences is lower in athletes (M = 3.59) than in non-athletes (M = 3.39). There are no statistically significant differences between athletes and non-athletes in honesty and agreeableness. This study provided a better understanding of the personality traits of athletes compared to non-athletes.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Allen, M.S., Greenlees, I., & Jones, M.V. (2011). An investigation of the five-factor model of personality and coping behaviour in sport. Journal of Sport Science, 29(8), 841–850. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2011.565064.

Ashton, M.C, Lee, K., & De Vries, R.E. (2014). The HEXACO Honesty-Humility, Agreeableness, and Emotionality Factors: A Review of Research and Theory. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 18(2), 139–152. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868314523838.

Ashton, M.C., & Lee, K. (2007). Empirical, theoretical, and practical advantages of the HEXACO model of personality structure. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 11(2), 150–166. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868306294907.

Ashton, M.C., & Lee, K. (2009). The HEXACO – 60: A Short Measure of the Major Dimensions of Personality. Journal of Personality Assessment, 91(4), 340–345. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223890902935878.

Bojanić, Ž., Nedeljković, J., Šakan, D., Mitić, P., Milovanović, I., & Drid, P. (2019). Personality traits and self-esteem in combat and team sports. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 2280. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02280.

Boomsma, D.I., De Geus, E.J., Van Baal, G.C.M., & Koopmans, J.R. (1999). A religious upbringing reduces the influence of genetic factors on disinhibition: evidence for interaction between genotype and environment on personality. Twin Research and Human Genetics, 2(2), 115–125. https://doi.org/10.1375/twin.2.2.115.

Bouchard, T.J., & Loehlin, J.C. (2001). Genes, evolution, and personality. Behavior Genetics, 31(3), 243–273. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012294324713.

Castanier, C., Le Scanff, C., & Woodman, T. (2010). Who takes risks in high-risk sports? A typological personality approach. Research quarterly for exercise and sport, 81(4), 478–484. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2010.10599709.

Coetzee, N. (2010). Personality profiles of recreational scuba divers. African Journal for Physical Health Education, Recreation and Dance, 16(4), 568–579. https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC19663.

Costa, P.T., & McCrae, R.R. (2008). The revised neo personality inventory (NEO-PIR). In G. J. Boyle., G. Matthews, & D.H. Saklofske (eds), The SAGE handbook of personality theory and assessment, vol. 2: Personality measurement and testing, (pp.179–198). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

DeMoor, M.H.M., Beem, A.L., Stubbe, J.H., & De Geus, E.J.C. (2006). Regular exercise anxiety, depression and personality: A population based study. Preventive Medicine, 42(4), 273–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2005.12.002.

Fazel, J. (2011). The Comparison of Big Five Personality Traits between Male and Female Athletes and Non-Athletes. Journal of Sports and Motor Development and Learning (JSMDL), 3(2), 81–98. https://jsmdl.ut.ac.ir/article_24639.html?lang=en.

García-Naveira Vaamonde, A., Ruiz Barcuín, R., & Pujáls, C. (2011). Diferencias en personalidad en función de la práctica o no deportiva, nivel de competición y categoría por edad en jugadores de fútbol desde el modelo de Costa y McCrae. Revista de Psicología del Deporte, 20(1), 29–44. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12766/565.

Goldberg, L.R. (1990). An alternative “Description of Personality”: The Big-Five factor structure. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59(6), 1216–1229.

John, O.P., Naumann, L.P., & Soto, C.J. (2008). Paradigm shift to the integrative Big Five trait taxonomy: History, measurement, and conceptual issues. In O.P. John, R.W. Robins & L.A. Pervin (eds), Handbook of personality: Theory and research, (pp. 114–158). New York City: The Guilford Press.

Jović, R., Vitković, B., & Nešić, A. (2024). The intersection of science and policy in sports safety. Sport, media and business, 10(1), 105–120. https://doi.org/10.58984/smb2401105j.

Kajtna, T., Tušak, M., Baric, R., & Burnik, S. (2004). Personality in high risk sports athletes. Kinesiology, 36(1), 24–34.

Larsen, R., Buss, (2010). Personality Psychology: Domains of Knowledge About Human Nature, Dubuque ia: McGraw Hill

Lee, K., & Ashton, M. (2008). HEXACO personality factors in the indigenous personality lexicons of English and 11 other languages. Journal of personality, 76(5),1001–1054. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2008.00512.x.

Malinauskas, R., Dumciene, A., Mamkus, G., & Venckunas (2014). Personality traits and exercise capacity in male athletes and non-athletes. Perceptual & Motor Skills, 118(1), 145–161. https://doi.org/10.2466/29.25.PMS.118k13w1.

McGue, M., Bacon, S., & Lykken, D.T. (1993). Personality stability and change in early adulthood: A behavioral genetic analysis. Developmental Psychology, 29(1), 96–109. https://psycnet.apa.org/buy/1993-17559-001.

McKelvie, S. J., Lemieux, P., & Stout, D. (2003). Extraversion and Neuroticism in Contact Athletes, No Contact Athletes and Non-athletes: A Research Note. Athletic Insight, 5(3), 19–27.

Penezić, S., Selenić, U. (2023). Ritual performance in the behavior of Red Star and Partizan fans, Kultura, 180, 171-184, DOI: 10.5937/kultura2380171P

Petz, B. (2005). Psihologijski rječnik (Psychological dictionary). Jastrebarsko: Naklada Slap.

Piepiora, P. (2021a). Assessment of personality traits influencing the performance of men in team sports in terms of the big five. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 679724. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.679724.

Piepiora, P. (2021b). Personality profile of individual sports champions. Brain and Behavior, 11(6), e02145. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2145.

Piepiora, P., & Piepiora, Z. (2021). Personality determinants of success in men's sports in the light of the big five. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(12), 6297. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18126297.

Raab, S., Wolfe, B., Gould, T., Piland, S. (2011). Characterizations of a Quality Certified Athletic Trainer, J Athl Train., 46(6), 672–679. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050- 46.6.672

Rhea, D.J., & Martin, S. (2010). Personality trait differences of traditional sport athletes, bullriders, and other alternative sport athletes. International Journal of Sport Science and Coaching, 5(1), 75–85. https://doi.org/10.1260/1747-9541. 5.1.75.

Rhodes, R.E., Courneya, K.S., & Jones, L.W. (2005). The theory planned behavior and lower-orden personality traits: interaction effects in the exercise domain. Personality and Individual Differences, 38(2), 251–265. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.paid.2004.04.005.

Riemann, R., Angleitner, A., & Strelau, J. (1997). Genetic and environmental influences on personality: a study of twins reared together using the self- and peer report NEO-FFI scales. Journal of Personality, 65(3), 449–475. https://doi.org/10.1111/ j.1467-6494.1997.tb00324.x.

Shariati, M., & Bakhtiari, S. (2011). Comparison of Personality Characteristics Athlete and Non-Athlete Student, Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 30(1), 2312–2315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro. 2011.10.450.

Shuai, Y., Wang, S., Liu, X., Kueh, Y.C., & Kuan, G. (2023). The influence of the five-factor model of personality on performance in competitive sports: a review. Frontiers in psychology, 14, 1284378. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1284378.

Soto, C., & Jackson, J. (2013). Five-factor model of personality. In D.S. Dunn (ed), Oxford Bibliographies in Psychology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Steca, P., Baretta, D., Greco, A., D’Addario, M., Monzani, D. (2018). Associations between personality, sports participation and athletic success. A comparison of Big Five in sporting and non-sporting adults. Personality and Individual Differences, 121, 176–183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.09.040.

Talyabee, S.R., Moghadam, R.S., & Salimi, M. (2013). The investigation of personality characteristics in athlete and non-athlete students. European Journal of Experimental Biology, 3(3), 254–256.

Tok, S. (2011). The big five personality traits and risky sport participation. Social Behaviour and Personality: an International Journal, 39(8), 1105–1112. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2011.39.8.1105.

Vitković, B. (2023). Youth's participation in the media and an analysis of the flow of information about them from one media platform to another, Communication and Media, 18, 54, 305-336, 10.5937/cm18-43849

Wilson, R.S., Krueger, K.R., & Gu, L., Bienias, J.L., de Leon, C.F.M., & Evans, D.A. (2005). Neuroticism, extraversion, and mortality in a defined population. Psychosomatic Medicine, 67(6), 841–845. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.psy.0000190615. 20656.83.

Zekioglu, A., Tatar, A., & Ozdemir, H. (2018). The Comparison of Personality Profiles of Sports and Non-sports Group by Six-factor Model of Personality. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 6(11), 2683–2690. https://acikerisim.fsm.edu.tr/xmlui/handle/11352/3786.

Zubić, I. (2021a). Predikcija mentalne jačine sportista na osnovu osobina ličnosti (Prediction of the mental toughness of the athletes based on personality traits). Zbornik radova Filozofskog fakulteta u Prištini, 51(2), 295–319. https://doi.org/10.5937/zrffp51-30487

Zubić, I. (2021b). Predikcija stanja anksioznosti sportista na osnovu osobina ličnosti (Prediction of state anxiety in athletes based on personality traits). Fizička kultura, 74(2), 123–131. https://doi.org/10.5937/fizkul75-32472.

Zubić, I., Dašić, D., & Vitković, B. (2024). Prediction of academic success based on personality characteristics, self-efficacy and achievement motivation among students in Serbia, ODITOR, in press.