Levels of neuroticism and extraversion in body contact, non-body contact and non-athletes

Abstract

This study is a semi-replicated study of the study by Mckelvie, Lemieux & Stout (2003). Prior studies in the area of personality and sports have found athletes to be more extraverted and less neurotic compared to non-athletes (Morgan 1980; Schurr, Ashley, & Joy, 1977; Lemieux, Mckelvie & Stout, 2003; Lu & Hu, 2005; De Moor, Beem, Stubbe, Boomsma, De Geus, 2006). This study compared levels of extraversion and neuroticism between male and female body contact athletes, non-body contact athletes and non-athletes, currently enrolled at the University of Malta. This was measured using the Eysenck personality inventory. The scores were compared using a one-way ANOVA test. This study also explored a negative correlation between extraversion and neuroticism using a one-tailed Pearson correlation test. Both athlete groups were found to be more extraverted and less neurotic than the non-athlete group and a negative correlation was obtained between extraversion and neuroticism for all three groups. The results were discussed both from a biological and a social perspective. The study concludes by discussing important factors for future research.