THE BIG FIVE PERSONALITY TRAITS AND RISKY SPORT PARTICIPATION

The purpose in this study was to examine differences between risky sport participants and nonparticipants using the Big Five (McCrae & Costa, 1997) personality traits. The sample included 328 individuals ranging in age from 18 to 53 (M = 23.42 and SD = 3.98). The Five Factor Personality Inventory developed by Somer, Korkmaz, and Tatar (2002) was used to measure personality traits. The results showed that risky sport participants have significantly higher levels of exit-aversion and openness to experience and lower levels of conscientiousness and neuroticism. The measurement of Big Five personality traits might be a valuable means of estimating individuals' tendency to participate in adventure/risky sport, which in turn could be used to promote adventure/risky sport tourism.