Date of Award

August 2012

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Kinesiology

First Advisor

Kyle T. Ebersole

Committee Members

Barbara B. Meyer, Kathryn R. Zalewski

Keywords

Counter movement jump performance, extraversion, neuroticism

Abstract

Introduction: Sport psychology literature has demonstrated a relationship between personality and physical ability and athletic performance. In general, individuals who exhibit a greater degree of extraversion display a greater physical ability and athletic performance than individuals who exhibit a lower degree of extraversion. The physiology literature has also demonstrated relationships between extraversion level and movement time and electrophysiological mechanisms (i.e., muscle activity) during a fine movement task. However to date, no study has investigated if these physiological relationships manifest themselves during a gross movement task. If a relationship exists, it may provide mechanistic reasoning behind the previously observed relationships between personality and physical ability and athletic performance. As such, the primary purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between counter movement jump (CMJ) performance and personality. The secondary purpose was to investigate possible electrophysiological mechanisms (i.e., peak muscle activity) to further explain the relationship between CMJ performance and personality. Methods: This study examined the relationship between peak height, peak power output, peak force output, and peak velocity during the CMJ of 25 participants. Performance of the CMJ was examined through the use of a Myotest Sport unit. Peak muscle activity during the CMJ was also examined through the use of surface electromyography (EMG). EMG was utilized to determine if a relationship existed between extraversion level and agonist (quadriceps) and/or antagonist (hamstrings) muscle activity during the CMJ. All measures of personality were assessed via the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI). Bivariate Pearson correlations were used to examine the relationships among all tested variables. Results: Extraversion and neuroticism level were not significantly correlated to any of the CMJ performance measures. Extraversion level was not significantly correlated to any of the peak muscle activity in the right or left legs during the CMJ. Neuroticism level was only significantly related to peak muscle activity of the right semitendinosus (ST) during the CMJ. All other muscle activity correlations were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Personality does not appear to be significantly related to CMJ performance. However, a relationship between neuroticism level and peak muscle activity during the CMJ may exist, and further investigation is warranted.

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