Personality Determinants Related to the Use of Selective and Effective Dietary Supplements by Elite Polish Team Sport Athletes.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this research was to analyse relationships between personality traits and the use of selected dietary supplements among Polish athletes training in team sports. This subject matter has not been explored in prior research. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This research was carried out among a group of 213 athletes (men) in the 18-36 age range, with the implementation of a proprietary validated questionnaire for the use of dietary supplements and the NEO-PI-R inventory (Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Personality Inventory-Revised). Statistical analyses were performed with the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests, assuming the following level of significance: α = 0.05. RESULTS: It was shown that athletes who periodically and regularly consumed isotonic drinks, as well as energy bars and gels, were characterised by a lower level of neuroticism than those who did not consume them. Athletes who periodically took multivitamin preparations were characterised by a lower level of extraversion and openness, and those periodically using multimineral preparations were characterised by a higher level of agreeableness than those who did not use these agents. Athletes not taking creatine were characterised by the lowest level of conscientiousness among the study participants. The use of protein nutrients, probiotics and caffeine was not associated with any personality traits in the athletes. CONCLUSIONS: Further relationships of the Big Five personality traits were demonstrated with the use of effective dietary supplements by athletes; the most unambiguous correlations were described for neuroticism and conscientiousness in such a way that the use of isotonic drinks, as well as energy bars and gels, was connected with a low level of neuroticism, while the use of creatine was connected with high conscientiousness.

Personality Determinants of Exercise-Related Nutritional Behaviours among Polish Team Sport Athletes.

A proper diet increases the effectiveness of training and accelerates post-workout regeneration. One of the factors determining eating behaviour are personality traits, including those included in the Big Five model, i.e., neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. The aim of this study was to analyse the personality determinants of peri-exercise nutritional behaviours among an elite group of Polish athletes practicing team sports. The study was conducted in a group of 213 athletes, using the author's validated questionnaire of exercise-related nutrition behaviours and the NEO-PI-R (Neuroticism Extraversion Openness-Personality Inventory-Revised). A statistical analysis was performed using Pearson's linear correlation and Spearman's rank correlation coefficients as well as a multiple regression analysis, assuming a significance level of α = 0.05. It has been shown that the level of the overall index regarding normal peri-exercise eating behaviours decreased with increasing neuroticism (r = -0.18) and agreeableness (r = -0.18). An analysis of the relationship between the personality traits (sub-scales) of the Big Five model demonstrated that the overall index of proper peri-exercise nutrition decreased with the intensification of three neuroticism traits, i.e., hostility/anger (R = -0.20), impulsiveness/immoderation (R = -0.18), and vulnerability to stress/learned helplessness (R = -0.19), and four traits of agreeableness, i.e., straightforwardness/morality (R = -0.17), compliance/cooperation (R = -0.19), modesty (R = -0.14), and tendermindedness/sympathy (R = -0.15) (p < 0.05). A multiple regression analysis exhibited that the full model consisting of all the analysed personality traits explained 99% of the variance concerning the level of the proper peri-exercise nutrition index. In conclusion, the index of proper nutrition under conditions of physical effort decreases along with the intensification of neuroticism and agreeableness among Polish athletes professionally practicing team sports.

Personality Determinants of Diet Health Quality among an Elite Group of Polish Team Athletes.

The aim of the study was to analyse personality determinants of diet health quality among of an elite group of Polish team athletes. The correlations between personality traits of the big five model and the indices of diet health quality (the pro-healthy diet index, pHDI-10 and the non-healthy diet index, nHDI-14) were assessed. Research was carried out among 213 athletes (males), using the beliefs and eating habits questionnaire (Kom-PAN) and the neuroticism extraversion openness personality inventory-revised (NEO-PI-R). Statistical analysis was performed with the use of Pearson's linear and Spearman's signed rank correlation coefficients as well as multiple regression, assuming the significance level of α = 0.05. It has been shown that the pro-healthy diet index (pHDI-10) decreased with increasing Neuroticism, while an increase was noted along with increasing Extraversion. In the case of the non-healthy diet index (nHDI-14) a decrease along with a simultaneous increase in the level of Agreeableness (p < 0.05). Significant (but weak) correlations have been indicated between personality traits and diet health quality. The identified dependencies may be used to personalise the impact of dietary education among athletes.

Personality Determinants of Eating Behaviours among an Elite Group of Polish Athletes Training in Team Sports.

The nutritional behaviours of athletes are determined by environmental and individual factors. The aim of the research was to analyse the personality determinants of the eating behaviour among an elite group of Polish athletes training in team sports. The research was conducted among 213 athletes, using a proprietary validated nutritional behaviour questionnaire and the Neuroticism Extraversion Openness-Personality Inventory-Revised (NEO-PI-R Personality Inventory). Statistical analysis was performed with the use of Pearson's linear and Spearman's signed rank correlation coefficients, as well as multiple regression evaluation, assuming the significance level of α = 0.05. It was shown that the overall index of proper eating behaviour increased with increasing neuroticism (r = 0.132) and decreased with increasing openness to experience (r = -0.143). When assessing individual nutritional behaviours, it was indicated, among others, that with increasing neuroticism, athletes more often avoided energy drinks (R = 0.173), and with increasing extraversion, they more frequently consumed vegetables at least twice a day (R = 0.154). At the same time, the consumption of raw vegetables (R = -0.153), 2-3 portions of vegetables and fruit per day (R = -0.157) and the limitation of sweet and salty snacks (R = -0.152) decreased along with an increase in openness. On the other hand, with increasing conscientiousness, the regular consumption of meals (R = 0.186), dairy products (R = 0.143) and the reduction of sweet and salty snacks (R = 0.148) increased. The model built on the basis of the Big Five personality traits explained, to a very large extent (approx. 99%), variance concerning the general index of normal eating behaviour among athletes. The predictive significance of the personality traits presented in the Big Five model was demonstrated in relation to the quality of nutritional choices among Polish athletes competitively training in team sports, which may be used to personalise the dietary education of athletes.