The relationship between Big-Five personality factors, thinking style and self-efficacy among sports management students

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to create a psychological profile of students in Sport Management from the National University of Physical Education annd Sports, in terms of the Big Five personality superfactors, Thinking Style (i.e. rational versus irrational beliefs) and (perceived) Efficacy and to study the degree of association between these factors. The following hypotheses were formulated: 1) There are significant correlations between the Big-Five model superfactors (Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability and Autonomy) and Self-efficacy, in the case of Sports Management students; 2) There are significant correlations between the Big-Five model superfactors (Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability and Autonomy) and Thinking Style: Irrational Cognitions (Demandingness in the form of ’musts’, Low Frustration Tolerance, Self-Downing and/or global evaluation, Global Score Attitudes and Beliefs) in the case of students in the Sport Management Specialization; 3)There are significant correlations between Self-Efficacy and Thinking Style (i.e. Irrational Cognitions: Demandingness in the form of ’musts’, Low frustration tolerance, Awfulizing, Self-downing and /or global evaluation, Attitudes and Beliefs Global score) in the case of Sport Management students. The participants in the research were 39 students in the Sports Management Specialization (28.21% female and 71.79% male) aged 19-23 years. The 5 Factor Personality Questionnaire (CP5F) and Attitudes and Beliefs Scale-II (ABS-II), both from the Computerized Platform for Psychological Assessment (CAS++), S.C.Cognitrom S.R.L. and the Self-Efficacy Scale (Schwarzer & Jerusalem) were applied. The correlates study led to confirmation of all three hypotheses.