The relationship between sport participation motivations and personality traits

The purpose of the study aims to examine the relationship between sport parcitipaciton and personality traits according to different variables.Therefore, this study has been conducted with relational survey model which is one of the general survey model. In order to determine the interaction between sport participation and personality traits, ıt was refered to the oppinion of individuals who participate in sport. The population of the study was composed of individuals who participate in recreational sport activities. The sample group was composed of 235 individuals living in Ankara and Bolu who were sampled through convenient sampling method. Survey method was used as data collection tool in the study. The survey form was composed of three scales. While there is a Personal Information Form consisting 16 questions in first section of the main scale, which was composed of three sections, in the second section there was Recreational Exercise Motivation scale developed by Roger and Morris (2003), adapted to Turkish language by Gurbuz et. al. (2006). REMM consists 66 questions and 5 sub-dimensions (Cronbach's Alpha Healt 0.93, Competition 0.88, Socialising and Entertainment 0.88, Appearence 0.82, Skill Development 0.84). In third section there was Five Factor Personality Scale developed by Benet-Martinez and John (1998), adapted to Turkish version by Sumer (2005). FFPS consists 44 questions and 5 sub-dimensions (Cronbach's Alpha Extraversion 0.66, Neuroticism 0.62, Agreeableness 0.60, Openness to Experience 0.71, Conscientiousness 0.66). Descriptive statistics, T Test, Anova, Mann-Whitney U Test, , Correlation Test were used in the analysis of the data. As a result of research, according to gender variables statistically significant difference was found in favor of men in the competition, socialising and entertainment, skill development subdimension of REMM scale. According to the age variable, the statistically significant difference was determined in the conscientiousness subdimension of FFPS between 28+ and 18-22 years old groups; in favor of individuals over 28 years old. In line with exercise place variable, participants who prefer to join sport activities in outdoor scored higher than who prefer to participate open sports ground (stadiums etc.) in the opennness to experience subdimension of FFPS. According to the exercise participation year variable, a longer time participants scored higher in conscientiousness subdimension of FFPS than shorter time participants. Individual sport participants were detected to be more open to experience than fitness and team sport participants. Extraverts found challenging training programs more beneficial for themselves than open experienced individuals. In conclusion a correlation test between FFPS and REMM showed that; there was low positive relation found between health subdimension of REMM and each subdimension of FFPS; apperance subdimension of REMM and extraversion and openness to experience subdimension of FFPS; skill development subdimension and all subdimension of FFPS except neuroticism.