Neuroticism, Extraversion and Participation in Physical Activities: An Appraisal of Gravitational Model

Background: Since the decade of 1970, has been performed many
efforts to understand the major determinants of individual's participation in
physical and athletic activities. The one of these efforts, was to
understanding of this point that is the individuals participation in athletic
activities results of pre-existing personality differences among them or
personality differences are shaping in process of athletic participation? Objective:
The aim of this study was to determine the difference between athletes and
non-athletes concerning to neuroticism and extraversion in framework of
gravitational model. Method: This study was conducted with an ex-post
facto research design. One hundred and twenty four athletes (69 men and 55
women) and one hundred and sixteen non-athletes (51 men and 65 women) that
entering newly in body-building clubs composed the study sample. These
respondents then responded to The Big Five Inventory (BFI).  Results: The results showed
significant difference among athletes and non-athletes in regard to Neuroticism
(P