Personality Type and Prevalence of Lower Extremity Injury in Novice and Experienced Long-Distance Runners

Purpose: Purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between Big Five Inventory (BFI)-2 domain scores and lower kinetic chain injury rates for novice and experienced long-distance runners. Methods: Thirty-three participants were gathered from the pre-established fitness program at the university. Participants were engaging in a training period for completion of a half or full marathon. Participants completed a BFI-2 questionnaire, and scores were calculated via Microsoft Excel. Injury tracking data was collected on a weekly basis for nine weeks via questionnaires that recorded injury frequency. Results: Binomial logistic regression analysis indicated no significant p values (p > .05) between cumulative injury frequency and BFI-2 domain scores. Mean BFI scores: neuroticism 3.22 ± 0.77, conscientiousness 2.31 ± 0.70, openness 2.40 ± 0.57, extraversion 2.59 ± 0.67, agreeableness 2.13 ± 0.45. Percentage of participants with less than two injuries across the 15-week training period was 66.7%; subjects with two or more injuries was 33.3%. The largest percentage of participants reporting an injury within one week was week 11 with 27.3% sustaining at least one injury. Conclusions: The findings of the study suggest that injury is a multifactorial phenomenon. More research needs to be done to determine other factors and their influences, such as biomechanics, built environment, and other areas relating to psychosocial health.