Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the five personality factors of elite athletes and their effects on positive psychological capital and athletic performance.
Method: The collected data were analyzed by frequency analysis, exploratory factor analysis, reliability analysis, descriptive statistical analysis, correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis using SPSS 25.0. The significant level of hypothesis verification is set-up as α=.05.
Results: The results of this study are as follows. 1. It was found that the personality of domestic elite athletes had a partial significant effect on positive psychological capital. In detail, the extraversion of the 5 personality factors had a positive effect on the self-efficacy of positive psychological capital, and affinity had a negative effect on hope, optimism, and resilience of positive psychological capital. Also, neuroticism had a positive effect on optimism, and conscientiousness had a positive effect on self-efficacy, hope, optimism, and resilience. Openness was found to have a positive effect on self-efficacy, optimism, and resilience. 2. It was found that the personality of domestic elite athletes had a partial significant effect on athletic performance. In detail, the extraversion of the 5 personality factors was found to have a positive effect on athletic life performance and athletic performance, and neurosis was found to have a negative effect on athletic life performance and athletic performance. Also, sincerity and openness were found to have a positive effect on athletic life performance. However, the affinity of the 5 personality factors did not have a statistically significant effect on the athletic life performance and athletic performance. 3. It was found that the positive psychological capital of domestic elite athletes had a partially significant effect on athletic performance. In detail, the self-efficacy and resilience of positive psychological capital were found to have a positive effect on athletic life performance and athletic performance, and hope was found to have a positive effect on athletic life performance. Also, it was found that optimism had a positive effect on athletic performance.
Conclusion: In summary, it was confirmed that the personality of elite athletes is an important variable that can predict positive psychological capital and athletic performance, and it is judged that this can be used as basic data to emphasize the importance of personality.