Author(s): Parmod Kumar Sethi and Vineet Mehta

Abstract:
This study investigates the relationship between sports participation and personality traits, focusing on neuroticism and extraversion among college students. Drawing from a sample of 118 participants (44 athletes and 74 non-athletes) aged 18-22 years from the University of Delhi, India, the research employs the Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI) to assess personality dimensions. Athletes exhibited significantly higher extraversion scores (M=30.43, SD=5.31) compared to non-athletes (M=25.99, SD=5.86), with a large effect size (Cohen's d=0.78, p<.001). Conversely, non-athletes showed higher neuroticism scores (M=27.91, SD=8.33) compared to athletes (M=25.25, SD=7.34), though this difference was not statistically significant (p=.083). These findings highlight the role of sports participation in fostering extraversion, which aligns with the social demands and collaborative nature of athletic activities. While neuroticism showed a non-significant trend, the results underscore the potential of sports to influence emotional resilience and social engagement. Methodological rigor, including stratified random sampling and statistical control for confounders, enhances the study’s validity. The research contributes to understanding how sports participation shapes personality traits, with implications for educational policies and mental health interventions. Future longitudinal studies are recommended to explore causality and the long-term impact of athletic involvement on personality development.

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