Choking Susceptibility and the Big Five Personality Traits

Abstract

Background: Choking susceptibility is the likelihood or potential of an individual choking under pressure. Choking susceptibility can be influenced by personality traits. Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the differences between the Big Five personality traits on choking susceptible and choking non-susceptible individuals from a Canadian University using a cross-sectional design. It was hypothesized that choking susceptibility could be predicted by the Big Five personality traits. Methods: A protocol developed by Mesagno and colleagues, comprising a self-consciousness scale, sports anxiety scale, and coping style scale, was used to measure choking susceptibility. The protocol has only been used within athlete populations. This study is the first to use the choking susceptibility protocol outside of sports, specifically for undergraduate students (N = 177). Results: A logistic regression revealed that the personality traits could significantly predict choking susceptibility. Neuroticism was the sole significant predictor. Higher neuroticism values significantly increased the probability of an individual choking susceptible. Conclusion: According to the current study, neuroticism predicted choking susceptibility. Future research should address choking susceptibility in different contexts and more closely examine the relationship between choking susceptibility and actually choking under pressure.