GENDER DIFFERENCES IN THE PREDICTIVE VALIDITY OF PERSONALITY TRAITS FOR POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE EMOTIONS

This study explored whether the impact of personality traits on positive and negative emotional states differs by gender. Employing descriptive and correlational survey models, the research used quantitative methods. The sample consisted of 200 female and 200 male students from the Faculty of Sport Sciences at Manisa Celal Bayar University. Data were gathered through the “Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)” and the “Five Factor Personality Inventory (Short Form).” The findings demonstrated significant relationships between positive mood and the traits of extraversion, conscientiousness, and openness to improvement, while a connection was found between negative mood and mildness/aggressiveness. In gender-specific analyses, significant associations were observed between negative mood and conscientiousness as well as openness to improvement among female participants. A particularly noteworthy finding revealed a negative and moderately significant relationship between negative mood and emotional inconsistency in males; in contrast, this relationship was positive yet weak in females. Additionally, positive mood showed positive and moderately significant correlations with personality traits (r= .47, r² = .20), with extraversion and conscientiousness identified as the strongest predictors. For female participants, there existed a significant relationship between negative mood and personality traits (r = .38, r² = .12), where extraversion and conscientiousness, especially emotional inconsistency, emerged as key predictors. Similarly, a significant relationship was found in male participants (r = .35, r² = .12), with neuroticism identified as the strongest predictor of negative affect. In summary, the results suggest that personality traits have a significant influence on emotional states, although these relationships vary by gender. The findings underscore the importance of considering personality traits in the assessment of individuals' affective states. The results indicate that personality traits are fundamental determinants in understanding both positive and negative affect, and that this relationship may exhibit different patterns depending on gender.