Biology of Sport
eISSN: 2083-1862
ISSN: 0860-021X
Biology of Sport
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4/2019
vol. 36
 
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abstract:
Original paper

Associations Between the Dopamine D4 Receptor Gene Polymorphisms and Personality Traits in Elite Athletes

Monika Michałowska-Sawczyn
1
,
Marta Niewczas
2
,
Paweł Król
2
,
Wojciech Czarny
3
,
Agata Rzeszutko
2
,
Krzysztof Chmielowiec
4
,
Jolanta Chmielowiec
4
,
Anna Grzywacz
2
,
Kinga Humińska-Lisowska
1
,
Milena Lachowicz
1
,
Grzegorz Trybek
5
,
Mariusz Kaczmarczyk
6
,
Michał Wilk
7
,
Krzysztof Ficek
8
,
Ewelina Maculewicz
9
,
Patrizia Proia
10
,
Paweł Cięszczyk
1

  1. Faculty of Physical Education, Gdańsk University of Physical Education and Sport, Gdańsk, Poland
  2. Faculty of Physical Education, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland
  3. Faculty of Sport University of Presov, Slovakia
  4. Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Zielona Góra, Zielona Góra, Poland
  5. Department of Oral Surgery, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
  6. Faculty of Tourism and Recreation, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, Gdansk, Poland
  7. Faculty of Physical Education, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Poland
  8. Faculty of Physiotherapy, Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
  9. Kaczkowski Military Institute of Hygiene Epidemiology, Warsaw, Poland
  10. University of Palermo Department of Psychological, Pedagogical and Educational Sciences, Palermo, Italy
Biol Sport. 2019;36(4):365–372.
Online publish date: 2019/10/31
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Personality traits and temperament may affect sports performance. Previous studies suggest that dopamine may play an important role in behavior regulation and physical exercise performance. The aim of this study is to determine associations between dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4 Ex3) polymorphisms and personality traits (such as neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeability and conscientiousness) in elite combat athletes. A total of 302 physically active, unrelated, self-reported Caucasian participants were recruited for this study. The participants consisted of 200 elite male combat athletes and 102 healthy male participants (control group). For personality trait measurements, the NEO Five-Factor Personality Inventory (NEO-FFI) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaires were used. For the genetic assays, blood was collected and all samples were genotyped using the real-time PCR method. A 2 x 3 factorial ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences on the Openness NEO Five Factor Inventory scale for both examined factors, i.e. sport status and genetics DTD4 Ex3. Combat athletes achieved higher scores on the Conscientiousness NEO-FFI scale when compared to controls (7.18 vs 5.98). On the other hand, combat athletes scored lower on the Openness scale in comparison with control group (4.42 vs. 4.63). Subjects with the DRD4 Ex3 s/s genotype had lower results on the openness scale in comparison with participants with the DRD4 Ex3 s/1 genotype (4.01 vs. 4.57) and higher DRD4 Ex3 1/1 genotype (4,01 vs. 3,50). In conclusion, we found an association between the dopamine D4 receptor gene in variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphisms and athletic status for two NEO-FFI factors: Openness and Conscientiousness. The DRD4 exon 3 polymorphism may be associated with the selected personality traits in combat athletes, thereby modulating athletes’ predisposition to participate in high risk sports.
keywords:

Elite athletes, Dopamine, D4 receptor, Personality traits, Genetics

 
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