Relations Between Trait Personality, Goal Orientation, and Adaptive Outcomes in High School Physical Education

Abstract

Purpose: Personality traits such as honesty-humility, emotionality, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience (HEXACO) have been linked to numerous adaptive outcomes in academic, sport, and physical activity settings; yet little if any such research has been conducted with physical education (PE) students. The aim of this study was to investigate relations between the HEXACO trait personality dimensions and five noteworthy outcomes in PE, namely task and ego goal orientation, importance-value, intention to enroll, and grade. Method: Survey data were gathered from 316 ninth and tenth-grade PE students. Results: Personality collectively predicted each of the outcomes (p < .001). Conclusion: Students with certain personalities—particularly those lower in extraversion—might be more susceptible to some less favorable outcomes in secondary PE. To better differentiate instruction in PE, there may be some merit in increasing physical educator awareness of personality traits and how they might compromise some adaptive outcomes in PE.