Date
3-10-2026
Department
School of Health Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences (PhD)
Chair
Joshua Dexheimer
Keywords
personality, sports, sports performance, indicators, MBTI, Myers-Briggs, collegiate athletes, college
Disciplines
Sports Sciences
Recommended Citation
Traub, Allison, "The Role of Personality in Collegiate Athletes’ Indicators of Performance and Injury Experiences – A Mixed Methods Study" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7985.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7985
Abstract
This mixed methods study explores the impact of collegiate athletes' indicators of personality traits as attributed to athletic performance, injury experiences, and sport identity. Sports often emphasize physical abilities, yet the role of personality is equally significant—though it has received comparatively little attention in psychological research. This research addresses such a gap through examining how personality traits shape athletes’ competitive behavior along with coping strategies. The traits are defined within the 16 Personalities framework using Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and how it influences just how athletes recover. This research will explore research questions such as how personality affects college athletes' indicators of performance as well as how these characteristics affect the injuries they face or might face in the future. Sport selection and resilience are affected by personality traits. Through this research, data will be collected through mixed methods including interviews, along with already existing data collected by the Newberry College Strength and Conditioning Department, via a purposive sample of 25–50 collegiate athletes across diverse sports and MBTI types. For recognizing trends across narratives, thematic analysis was employed, and triangulation improved the credibility of findings. Experiences of MBTI types were compared with personality profiles. Upon comparison, we showed athletes approach injury and competition in different ways. The anticipated findings aim to provide actionable insights for coaches, trainers, and sports psychologists by highlighting how personality-informed approaches can enhance athlete support. By integrating psychological dimensions into athletic development, this research promotes a more comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence performance, resilience, and recovery.
