Modeling the Effect of Personality Traits, Enjoyment, and Sports Commitment on Sports Motivation Mediated by Competitive Anxiety

of the Study: This study aimed to investigate the fit of the model of the effect of personality traits, enjoyment, and sports commitment on sports motivation mediated by competitive anxiety of wrestlers in Mazandaran Province.

We selected 405 wrestlers (312 males and 93 females) ranging in age from 16-48 years using the available method and based on the five-factor list of Neo-personality Inventory, Sports Motivation Scale Sports Commitment Questionnaire, Sports Enjoyment, and Competitive Anxiety Questionnaire.

The results showed that the model of the effect of personality traits, enjoyment, and sports commitment on sports motivation mediated by the sport commitment of wrestlers in Mazandaran province has a favorable fit. The results also showed that personality traits and sports enjoyment and commitment could explain competitive anxiety and sports motivation. Among the personality traits, neuroticism (0.337), extraversion (0.738), and conscientiousness (0.529) had a direct effect on wrestlers’ sports motivation. Also, sports enjoyment (2.391) and sports commitment (0.582) directly affected wrestlers’ sports motivation. The traits of openness had no significant direct effect on athletic motivation. The psychotic traits of neuroticism, extraversion and conscientiousness, sporting enjoyment, and sports commitment mediated by competitive anxiety did not significantly affect wrestlers’ sporting motivation.

In general, it can be said that the characteristics of neuroticism, extraversion and conscientiousness, sports enjoyment, and sports commitment increase sports motivation in wrestlers.