Sport and Personality: Effects of Type of Sport and Level of Competition

Abstract

Personal information and personality profiles, using the Cattell 16 PF, were collected from 93 sportsmen and sportswomen. Players involved in team (volleyball) and in individual (squash) sports were represented. Athletes were at a high level of competition (those selected for training at State level) and an average level. Discriminant analysis indicated significant differences in personality characteristics between squash and volleyball players and between high- and average-level competitors. Differences on a larger number of personality dimensions as a function of type of sport were also noted when analyses were carried out on the State (high) level competitors only.