Persoonlikheidsverskille tussen deelnemers en nie-deelnemers aan georganiseerde sport by man- en damestudente

Abstract

The primary aim of this study was to determine whether there are any differences in personality between participants and non-participants in organized, individual sport. Attention was also paid to possible differences in personality between men and women (whether participants or not) and possible differences in personality between the participants in various types of sport (men and women separately). Five branches of sport were involved, viz. karate, athletics, tennis, squash and gymnastics. The groups studied consisted of male and female students. Three psychometric instruments were used: the 16 PF, the P.H.S.F. and the IPAT anxiety scale. These were administered to 141 participants (85 men and 56 women) and an equal number of non-participants.

The two groups were matched as regards sex, age and academic year. As a result of the nature of the groups the tests were administered in small groups or sometimes individually. All persons were tested in the same set of controlled circumstances. In order to determine the significance of differences in the various groups, t-tests were administered. The original assumption was that there would be differences as far as the groups were concerned, and this assumption was supported by the following results: 1. Participants mainly showed characteristics marking them as social extroverts. In accordance with this they also emerged as being more dominant and self-assured, as well as tending to evaluate themselves more positively than the non-participants. Although they further seemed to be more emotionally stable than the non-participants they nevertheless revealed a certain degree of nervousness and a seeming pre-occupation with their bodily health. The non-participants, in contrast, appeared introverted. Their social shrewdness and self-sufficiency as well as the higher degree of development of self sentiment are indicators of this social timidity. They also revealed a higher degree of general anxiety than the participants. 2. Male participants seemed to be more intelligent than their non-participating peers. In addition

to their more extroverted tendencies they also revealed a greater need for personal friendship than the non-participants. 3. Female participants also revealed clear tendencies towards group activity and extroversion. This was, however, in a lesser degree than among the male participants. 4. There were also indications that men and women differed as far as their personalities were concern= ed quite apart from their involvement or non-involvement in sport (Tables 9-10). It would, however, appear as if men and women who are actively involved in sport show smaller differences from each other than the non-participants. 5. Comparisons between the participants in the various branches of sport yielded few differences . There is, however, the impression throughout that the participants (male as well as female) are more extroverted, self-assured, and dominant, except in the case of the female gymnasts who seemed to be more introverted by nature than the non-participants . 6 . The comparisons between the various branches of sport yielded few significant differences. It was quite remarkable, however, that the male tennis players and the female athletes were the two groups differing most markedly from the rest.