An Examination of the Personality Traits and Sense of Humour of Paralympic Athletes

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the personality traits and humour styles of Paralympic athletes. The relational screening model was used in the study, and 292 Paralympic athletes were evaluated. The basic personality traits scale and humour styles scale were applied in the study. In the findings, while significant differences were detected in the sub-dimensions and total scores of the basic personality traits scale of Paralympic athletes in terms of gender, age, type of physical disability, degree of disability, sports branch, and sports background variables, no significant difference was detected in terms of the variables of education status and being a national athlete or not. While significant differences were detected in the subdimensions and total scores of the humour styles scale in terms of education status, sports branch, being a national athlete or not, and sports background variables, no significant difference was detected in terms of the variables of gender, type of physical disability, and degree of disability. In the study, it was concluded that, as per the sports branches the athletes participate in, the athletes’ personality traits and humour styles are effective in their personality development, that the non-national athletes adopt a self-enhancing humour style, and that the sports background is effective on personality traits and humour styles. In the relevance between personality traits and humour styles, it was inferred that athletes with an affiliative humour style exhibit positive personality traits, while athletes exhibiting negative personality traits tend to adopt self-defeating and aggressive humour styles.