Investigation of the relationship between personality traits and problem solving skills of elite and non-elite wrestlers

In this study, it is aimed to examine the relationship between the personality traits and problem solving skills of elite and non-elite wrestlers. Our study consists of 30 women, 286 men and 316 volunteer wrestlers who are not elite or elite. The data in the study were obtained from three different measurement tools. In the first part, "Personal Information Form" (KBF) created by the researcher, in the second part "Five Factor Personality Inventory" (BFKE) developed by John, Donahue and Kentle (1991) and adapted to Turkish by Evinç (2004), in the third part Heppner and Peterson The Problem Solving Inventory (PSI), developed by 1982) and adapted into Turkish by Şahin, Şahin and Heppner (1993), was used. The data obtained from the wrestlers were analyzed by using Pearson correlation, independent groups t-test and one-way analysis of variance using IBM SPSS 25.0 package program. According to the scores of elite and non-elite wrestlers (BFKÖ), there was no difference in gender and father education variables (p> .05); Significant differences were determined in the variables of age, education, sports year, nationality, being elite, place of nationality, active sports, profession, marital status, maternal education and monthly income (p <.05). According to the scores they got from PSI, there was no difference in the variables of gender, education, being elite, mother and father education (p> .05); Significant differences were determined in the variables of age, marital status, sports year, being elite, nationality, active sports, place of nationality, profession and monthly income (p <.05). In addition, between wrestlers' personality traits and problem solving scores; Among elite athletes' emotional balance, extraversion, mildness, openness to experience, self-discipline and avoidant approach, hasty approach, thinking approach, self-confident approach, evaluative approach and planned approach sub-dimensions; Significant positive relationships were determined between the emotional balance and thinking approach, avoidant approach, hasty approach, evaluative approach, self-confident approach and planned approach sub-dimensions (p <.05). When examined in terms of non-elite athletes; emotional balance, extraversion, mildness, openness to experience, self-discipline and hasty approach, avoidant approach, thinking approach, evaluative approach, self-confident approach and planned approach sub-dimensions; Significant positive relationships were determined between emotional balance and hasty approach, avoidant approach, thinking approach, evaluative approach, self-confident approach and planned approach sub-dimensions (p <.05). As a result; it can be said that personality traits affect problem solving skills in elite and non-elite wrestlers. Key Words: Sport, Elite Athlete, Wrestling, Personality Traits, Problem Solving Skills