Impact of personality traits and motivation on adolescent sports participation.

Abstract

Background: Participation in physical-sporting activities is associated with positive physical, emotional, and social development during adolescence, a critical period characterized by significant biological, cognitive, and social changes. These developmental processes interact dynamically with individual differences in psychological traits and motivational factors, which strongly affect adolescents' sustained engagement and overall health outcomes through sport.

Participants and procedure: A sample of adolescents was assessed using validated questionnaires measuring intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, personality traits, and levels of physical activity. Statistical analyses were conducted to examine associations between these variables and to identify gender differences.

Results: Intrinsic motivation was found to be strongly associated with sports engagement, showing a higher correlation than extrinsic motivation. Personality traits such as extraversion were positively associated with higher physical activity levels; gender differences emerged in neuroticism and conscientiousness, with females scoring higher in these traits. Adolescents exhibiting high intrinsic motivation showed lower neuroticism and greater openness to experience, outlining a characteristic psychosocial profile linked to sustained sports participation.

Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of integrating both motivation and personality considerations when developing interventions aimed at promoting active and healthy lifestyles in adolescence. Understanding these psychological factors can facilitate the creation of tailored strategies by educators, families, and sports professionals to enhance youth engagement and well-being.