Grit and Personality Traits among Para-Athletes: A Correlational Analysis

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between grit and the Big Five personality traits extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness to experience among 121 para-athletes with an average age of 25.79 years and an average of 5.97 years of sports experience. Data were collected at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium using an online survey platform. The Grit Scale measured grit, while the Ten-Item Personality Inventory assessed personality traits. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, with Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis applied to explore relationships between variables. The results revealed significant positive correlations between grit and both openness (r = .236, p = .009) and emotional stability (r = .289, p = .001), indicating that para-athletes who score higher in these traits also exhibit greater levels of grit. However, no significant correlations were found with extraversion, conscientiousness, or agreeableness. The multiple regression analysis indicated that openness to experience and emotional stability significantly predict grit levels, accounting for approximately 13.1% of the variance in grit (R² = 0.131, p = 0.006). These findings highlight the importance of openness and emotional stability in fostering grit among para-athletes, suggesting that interventions focused on enhancing these traits may improve resilience and performance. The study contributes to understanding the psychological factors underpinning athletic resilience in para-athletes, emphasizing the need for targeted psychological support in this population.