Human nature revolves around the need to reproduce. This continual drive to increase fitness results in all efforts being taken to protect one’s self and thus one’s reproductive ability. This self-preservation exists in both a physiological level, and as will be discussed in this report, a psychological level. Although this element is present in the majority of individuals, the degree to which it is present varies. High risk takers often have lower levels of self preservation, while many people exist in a less extreme, though similarly risky state.
One of the most accepted personality indicators is the Five Factor Model, encompassing the traits of Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness. Conscientiousness “Assesses the individuals’ degree of organisation, persistence, and motivation in goal directed behaviour. (It) Contrasts dependable, fastidious people with those who are lackadaisical and sloppy.” (Costa and McRae, 1992). It has also been proposed that Conscientiousness is not the only personality factor affecting the incidence of injury. Vollrath, Landolt and Ribi (2003) identified over-activity, impulsiveness, emotional instability and aggressiveness in children as additional factors which affect injury occurrence.
Hogan and Ones (1997) describe conscientiousness as containing four primary elements. Hard work, orderliness, conformity and self-control all combine to determine the degree of conscientiousness of an individual. The most relevant of these elements is arguably self control, and this is the element which this report primarily explores. Rating high in these four elements results in a high level of conscientious behaviour. As indicated in the questionnaire (see procedure), a conscientious individual will carry out behaviours such as keeping belongings neat and clean, doing tasks on time and working to accomplish goals. These are factors that occur in most facets of contemporary life and are classified as General Conscientiousness.
Conversely, there are certain factors which individuals undertake in both sports setting and in general situations which indicate injury prevention behaviours. In sports settings, behaviours such as wearing a helmet and stretching before and after exercise are examined; while in a general setting, switching off electrical appliances, wearing sunscreen and a hat and checking batteries in a smoke alarm are studied.
In terms of Hogan and Ones’ four elements of conscientiousness, general conscientiousness is indicative of hard work and orderliness. Injury prevention behaviours however, are an indication of the level of self control. To this end, this study is comparing and contrasting the elements of hard work and orderliness to self control, and investigating a possible link between them.
Morrongiello and House (2004) investigated a link between Parent Supervision Attributes and risk taking behaviour in their children. Their study returned results proposing that physical proximity is more effective than both visual and auditory supervision in their children’s risk taking. It also found that children who are more supervised grow up to have higher injury prevention behaviours, suggesting that the personality factors affecting conscientiousness are not purely genetic, and are dependant on both nature and nurture.
Vollrath, Landolt and Ribi (2003) found mirroring results, also indicating that children with a lower level of conscientiousness were more likely to experience injury than those with high conscientiousness.
Few studies have been completed regarding the reduction of injury by reducing injury preventative behaviours. As this would involve changing conscientiousness and thus personality it poses a difficult proposition. It has been proposed by Arthur, Winfred, Doverspike and Dennis however that conscientiousness can be increased and thus the occurrence of injuries reduced by such initiatives as goal setting and following rules and regulations. These recommendations radiated from a study comparing personality to the involvement in motor vehicle crashes. It found a positive correlation between these two factors, further increasing the evidence that a high degree of conscientiousness results in less injury.
