Psychological correlates of achievement in sports among Nigerian adolescents

Abstract

The study investigated the relationship between personality traits of extroversion-introversion and neuroticism and achievement of Nigerian adolescents in sports. The design of the study was correlation survey design. The sample was 356 students from the 3 education zones in Abia State of Nigeria who have won different prizes in sporting competitions both at local, state and national levels. The study therefore adopted a purposive sampling technique. Two research hypotheses guided the study. The instruments for data collection were Eysenck personality inventory (EPI) and student's achievement record in different sporting competitions. The study employed multiple correlation statistics to establish the nature of relationship that exist between extroversionintroversion, neuroticism and achievement in sports of adolescents. The result shows that personality traits of extroversion-introversion and neuroticism were related to achievement in sporting activities. It was therefore recommended that highly neurotic athletes may need special help, particularly to keep their neuroticism under control and direct them among others.