Sibling position as a condition for the formation of some formal and dynamic features of athletes

Abstract

An athlete’s performance is a major issue of the elite sports. The current studies are focused on various factors of success, however, the effect of sibling position on the athlete’s personality formation is poorly understood. The study was aimed to assess the correlation of the formal and dynamic features with the resource potential in athletes who played badminton based on their sibling position using the structured interviews; Questionnaire of Formal and Dynamic Properties of Personality by V.M. Rusalov; Perinatal Experience – Resource Potential test by N.P. Kovalenko; correlation analysis. A total of 40 athletes were enrolled (20 boys and 20 girls; average age 14.5 year). In the “eldest or only child” subsample, the athletes’ communicative plasticity negatively correlated with the parameters of sensory and physiological systems (r = –0.50), as well as stress tolerance (r = –0.60). Correlations between the stress tolerance and psychomotor ergicity (r = 0.63), etc., ample had higher psychomotor plasticity and a larger resource potential (p < 0.05). The basic perinatal matrix is integrated into the formal and dynamic structure of the athlete’s personality. Thus, athletes of the “second or later-born child” subsample have a higher resource potential. Athletes of the “eldest or only child” subsample show lower psychomotor plasticity, however, they are more tenacious in fulfilling their goals. The areas of concern for the sports psychologist who works with athletes are highlighted in accordance with the results.