The relationship between personality trait and sport performance: the case of jimma aba-buna and jimma kenema national league football players

Abstract

The present study is an endeavor to explore the relationship between personality trait and sport performance on Jimma Kenema & Aba-Buna national league football players. The population of the study consisted of all National league football players (N=47) and all coaches (N=4) in the 2007 E. C (2014/2015G.C) competition season. The study employed a Cross-sectional design. To the data analysis descriptive co-relational method was employed. Personality was assessed by using the NEO- Five Factor Inventory, and athlete's Sport performance was assessed by coach's rating. Besides, two different questionnaires, on personality trait and Sport performance were used to collect relevant data. Descriptive Statistics were used for assessing the Mean, frequency & SD, a Pearson Product-Moment for correlation analysis and multiple regressions were used to analyze the data obtained. The finding of the study shows that the highest average mean result on personality factors were scored for Conscientiousness (M= 35.06, SD=4.75) and the lowest for the Neuroticism with a mean score of (M= 20.06, SD= 3.70). And the findings on the personality dimensions and sport performance showed be the Pearson correlation analysis indicated that from among personality trait Conscientiousness and Agreeableness have positive significant correlation with sport performance (r= .897, P < 0.01 and r= .380, P < 0.01) respectively. However, Neuroticism have a negatively significant correlation with Sport performance (r= -.338, P< .05). Beside, the result of multiple regression analysis indicated that Conscientiousness was the sole predictor of sport performance (b= .566, t= 10.94, p < 0.01). The finding of this research showed that some personality trait had significant positive relationship with Sport performance. So, the researcher recommends that whether coaching staff or other interested researchers in the area to expand these findings.