Leadership Characteristics of Sports Faculty Students and the Influence of Personality Traits on Their Leadership Orientation

The aim of this study is to examine the multidimensional leadership characteristics of students enrolled in faculties of sports sciences and to explore the influence of these leadership characteristics on their personality traits. An independent samples t-test was used for comparisons between two groups, while one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Least Significant Difference (LSD) post hoc tests were employed for comparisons among more than two groups. Data were collected from 358 students using the Leadership Orientation Scale and the Big Five Personality Inventory (BFI-50). Significant differences were observed in the sub-dimensions of structure-oriented, people-oriented, charismatic, and political leadership according to gender, as well as in the personality dimensions of agreeableness, conscientiousness (responsibility), and openness to experience (intellect/imagination) (p < 0.001). No significant gender differences were found for extraversion and emotional stability (p > 0.05). Furthermore, no statistically significant differences were identified in structure-oriented leadership or in the personality traits of extraversion, emotional stability, and openness to experience across academic departments (p > 0.05). However, significant departmental differences were observed in agreeableness and conscientiousness (p < 0.05). When analyzed according to students’ preferred types of sports, statistically significant differences emerged in all leadership and personality traits except for emotional stability. Specifically, differences were found in extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001). Among the personality traits, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness to experience collectively explained 33.4% of the variance in people-oriented leadership, 47.7% in structure-oriented leadership, 40.3% in political leadership, and 41.3% in charismatic leadership.Conclusion: The findings indicate that students of sports sciences generally possess strong leadership and personality traits. Gender was found to significantly influence both leadership and personality traits, whereas no significant effect of academic department was found on leadership traits. Nonetheless, department-based differences were present in the personality traits of agreeableness and conscientiousness. Additionally, students who reported an interest in team sports exhibited higher leadership and personality scores compared to those interested in individual sports. The results suggest that personality traits substantially influence leadership characteristics. It is posited that as students gain more knowledge and experience, their leadership and personality traits improve accordingly. Therefore, initiatives aimed at fostering the development of personality traits may contribute positively to enhancing students’ leadership capacities.