Examining Profiles of the Big Five and Sensation Seeking among Competitive Climbers

The present study sought to identify distinct personality profiles in competitive climbers (N = 331, Mean age = 29.85, SD = 10.92), and also sought to explore whether these climbers differed in their sensation seeking tendencies based on these personality profiles. Employing a cross-sectional design, participants completed measures of the big five personality dimensions (agreeableness; conscientiousness; extraversion; neuroticism; openness to experience) and sensation seeking (boredom susceptibility; experience seeking; disinhibition; thrill and adventure seeking). Latent profile analysis identified four distinct big five personality profiles (Curious and Impulsive; Emotionally Unstable; Healthy; and Measured and Compliant). MANCOVA and follow-up ANCOVAs demonstrated significant differences between the four personality profiles in relation to thrill and adventure seeking, experience seeking, and disinhibition. The findings suggest that the identification of distinct personality profiles using a person-centred approach is a useful way of distinguishing and optimizing typical behaviors and preferences in adventure sports in the future.

• We adopted a person-centred approach in examining competitive climbers’ personality • Big five personality and sensation seeking questionnaires were completed (N = 331) • Latent profile analysis (LPA) identified four distinct big five personality profiles • MANCOVA showed differences between the profiles on three sensation seeking subscales • LPA could support tailored programs to optimize participation in high-risk sports