An Analytical Study on the Association between Introversion-Extroversion Personality Trait and Leadership Style among College Students.

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between introversion–extraversion personality traits and leadership style preferences among college students, with a specific focus on genderbased differences. A quantitative correlational design was employed using a sample of 238 young adults (146 males, 92 females) aged 18 to 26 years. Data were collected through two standardized instruments: the Introvert–Extravert Personality Questionnaire by Eysenck and Eysenck (1964) and the Leadership Style Questionnaire based on the Lewin, Lippitt, and White (1939) framework. Pearson product-moment correlations and independent samples t-tests were used for statistical analysis. Findings revealed significant gender differences across all measured variables. Female participants demonstrated markedly higher leadership orientation (M = 58.22) compared to males (M = 42.21), reflected by a large effect size (Cohen's d = −0.945). Male participants reported significantly higher introversion scores, whereas females scored higher on extraversion. A strong negative correlation emerged between introversion and leadership (r = −.70, p < .001), suggesting that greater introversion was associated with lower self-perceived leadership orientation. A modest but statistically significant positive correlation was observed between extraversion and leadership (r = .14, p < .05). These results were interpreted through Eysenck's biological theory of personality, gender schema theory, self-concept theory, and person-environment fit theory. The findings suggest that the college environment, characterised by social visibility and peer interaction, tends to favour extraverted personality configurations, which disproportionately align with female participants in this sample. The study concludes that both personality orientation and gender meaningfully shape leadership identity during emerging adulthood.