PERSONALITY TRAITS, MOTIVATION AND CREATIVE ATTITUDES IN PEOPLE WHO EXERCISE AT THE GYM AND PEOPLE WHO PRACTICE FENCING

<ns3:p>Abstract: Physical activity can take various forms. People practicing fencing are part of interactive sports activities, while people exercising at the gym can be classified as participants of non-interactive exercising activity. Psychological factors can play an important role in both sports and exercising activity.Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the relationships between selected personality traits, creative attitudes and motivation in a group of physically active people (fencers and people exercising at the gym), as well as to assess the differences in these factors between representatives of interactive sports and non-interactive activities.Material and methods: 120 fencers and 67 people exercising at the gym (121 men and 66 women) were recruited at an average age of 28.21 years 7.61 (SD). Psychological questionnaires such as KANH-III, IVE, TIPI, SMS-28 were used. Statistical analysis was performed using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient and the U Mann–Whitney test. Cluster analysis was performed using the K-means method and then compared using the Student’s t-test.Results: Algorithmic and nonconformist behaviors correlated positively with all components of intrinsic motivation in the group of physically active people (fencers and gym goers). Nonconformist behaviors also correlated positively with motivation based on identification and negatively with amotivation. A positive correlation of the conformism-nonconformism dimension with extraversion, conscientiousness, openness to experience, emotional stability and risk propensity was also observed, as well as a negative correlation with empathy. In the algorithmic-heuristic dimension, there was a positive relation with conscientiousness, emotional stability, openness to experience and risk propensity. Comparative analyses have shown that there are statistically significant differences in the scope of psychological characteristics between people practicing fencing and people exercising in the gym. Two models of psychological characteristics were also distinguished for people practicing fencing and in the gym.Conclusions: There is a significant relationship between personality traits, creative attitudes and motivation in physically active people involved in interactive sports or non-interactive activities. In addition, there are differences between fencers and people exercising in the gym in terms of psychological characteristics. Fencers are characterized by lower extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, empathy, external motivation (introjection and regulation), as well as a higher intensity of internal motivation (to knowledge) compared to people exercising in the gym.</ns3:p>