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REACTIVE STRESS TOLERANCE AND PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF HUNGARIAN ELITE FENCERS

Written by Ákos PATÓCS, Lynne MELIA, Sándor KOVÁCS, Barbara FÓZER-SELMECI, László RÉVÉSZ, László TÓTH on . Posted in Volume XX, Nr 3

Authors

Ákos PATÓCS1,*, Lynne MELIA2, Sándor KOVÁCS3, Barbara FÓZER-SELMECI1, László RÉVÉSZ4, László TÓTH1

1 Department of Combat Sports, University of Physical Education (TF), Budapest, Hungary
2 University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
3 Faculty of Economics and Business, Institute of Sectoral Economics and Methodology, University of Debrecen, Hungary
4 Eszterhazy Karoly College, Eger, Hungary

ABSTRACT

Decision making is an essential part of athletes’ success in open-skill sports, such as fencing. The main aim of this paper was to reveal differences between fencers and non-fencers in terms of reactive stress tolerance, a person’s ability to provide quick serial answers to continuously changing stimuli. Secondly, we were also interested to explore if there were specific differences in personality characteristics. The Vienna Test System’s Determination Test and the Temperament and Character Inventory were used for the examination of 90 participants, grouped as a function of their fencing level skills: Mastery level, Talented, and Non-fencing. First, analyses revealed significant differences between mastery level fencers and non-fencing participants in terms of reactive stress tolerance, favoring participants in the Mastery level group. Second, in terms of differences in temperament, analyses proved that female athletes were more sensitive and reward-dependent than males; and that there were significant differences in terms of self-control capacity, determination, self-congruence, and lust for revenge between mastery and non-fencing groups. Furthermore, participants’ determination and the self-congruence were found to be associated with their reactive stress tolerance. Findings are discussed form an applied perspective.

KEYWORDS: fencing, reactive stress tolerance, determination, associated ability to react, personality

PAGES:171-184

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