Psychological Characteristics of Women Volleyball Players: Relationships with Injuries, Rehabilitation, and Team Success

Abstract

Relatively few studies have used standardized psychological instruments to describe personality characteristics of women intercollegiate athletes. Using members of women's intercollegiate volleyball teams from two midwestern conferences as subjects, this study investigated relationships of the four psychological factors underlying the Millon Behavioral Health Inventory with success of team, conference affiliation, occurrence of athletic injury, and, for players who had injuries, adherence to rehabilitation plans. The factor describing an assertive, self-assured, independent attitude distinguished one conference from the other, had higher values for successful than for unsuccessful teams, and was associated with higher injury rates. For players suffering moderate or severe injuries, this factor was also associated with adherence to rehabilitation plans. The relationship of this factor with the several variables is explained as resulting from risk taking and positive deviance.