A comparative study of personality and cognitive functions in elite and sub-elite Hungarian junior handball players

In both the scientific and practical domains of sports, a central question remains: what makes an athlete successful, and which factors determine whether an individual becomes a professional athlete? Beyond physical, technical, and tactical skills, psychological factors are indispensable for success. This study aimed to investigate the personality profiles and general cognitive functions of Hungarian junior elite (regular national team members) and sub-elite (first-league club players) handball players. For the assessment of personality traits, the Big Five (BIG5) theoretical framework was applied, measuring five dimensions of personality: emotional stability, openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, and agreeableness. Regarding cognitive functions, we measured general factors such as reaction time, short-term visual memory, sensorimotor speed, cognitive flexibility, and stress tolerance. All assessments were conducted using the Vienna Test System. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS, applying multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), and stepwise discriminant analysis to explore differences. Our findings indicate no significant differences between elite and sub-elite athletes in general cognitive functions. However, elite athletes showed significantly higher scores in dutifulness, modesty, ambition, values and norms, dynamism, and emotional robustness on personality scales. These results suggest that specific personality traits—particularly conscientiousness—are critical factors in the success of junior Hungarian handball players. In contrast, domain-general cognitive functions appear to no longer differentiate athletes at this age and level, suggesting a greater need to measure domain-specific cognitive skills. Overall, the success and performance potential of junior Hungarian handball players are likely influenced by their personality traits. Therefore, mapping and developing these traits can play a vital role in their daily routines and long-term performance.