Psycho-Social Parameters in Young Female Long Distance Runners

This study was designed to determine selected psycho-social parameters associated with a group of teenage, female long distance runners. These young women, who train by running approximately 50-90 miles per week, had scores in certain physiological and anthropometric measurements which were among the most advantageous for running ever recorded in a group of females. Each subject was administered the California Psychological Inventory (CPI), the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control test, and an open-ended questionnaire. Through comparisons with earlier norms for young women of this age group, it was found that the subjects scored higher than normal in academic achievement as a result of a more independent sense of self. In all other factors of the CPI the subjects were found to have normal scores. These results were in accord with the findings from the Locus of Control scores which showed that the subjects scored high in internality (i.e., these athletes are self-directed rather than other-directed). They seem to be motivated by the joy of running, the feeling of independence associated with running, and the close interpersonal relationship between team members. The data suggest that they are high in achievement motivation. (Author)