UPM Institutional Repository

The influence of personality traits on leadership styles among student leaders in Malaysian public universities


Citation

Mohd Nasir, Muhammad Az Zuhri and Ma’rof, Aini Azeqa and Rosnon, Mohd Roslan (2024) The influence of personality traits on leadership styles among student leaders in Malaysian public universities. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14 (12). pp. 1050-1066. ISSN 2222-6990

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of personality traits on leadership styles among student leaders in Malaysian public universities. Using the Big Five Personality Traits framework, the research examines how traits like extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness shape people-oriented and task-oriented leadership. A diverse sample of 400 student leaders was analyzed through quantitative methods, including correlation and regression analyses. The results indicate that extraversion and agreeableness are strongly associated with people-oriented leadership, while conscientiousness is a significant predictor of task-oriented leadership. Neuroticism was found to negatively impact both leadership styles, suggesting emotional instability may hinder leadership effectiveness. These findings highlight the critical role of personality traits in shaping leadership behaviors and underscore the need for leadership development programs that align with individual personality profiles. This study provides valuable insights into leadership development in the multicultural context of Malaysian public universities. It also contributes to a broader understanding of how personality influences leadership, offering practical implications for designing tailored leadership programs that enhance both relational and goal-oriented leadership skills.


Download File

[img] Text
118063.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (384kB)

Additional Metadata

Item Type: Article
Divisions: Faculty of Human Ecology
Institute for Social Science Studies
DOI Number: https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v14-i12/24044
Publisher: Human Resource Management Academic Research Society
Keywords: Personality traits; Leadership styles; Student leaders; Malaysian universities; Big five personality
Depositing User: Ms. Nur Faseha Mohd Kadim
Date Deposited: 23 Jun 2025 08:03
Last Modified: 23 Jun 2025 08:03
Altmetrics: http://www.altmetric.com/details.php?domain=psasir.upm.edu.my&doi=10.6007/ijarbss/v14-i12/24044
URI: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118063
Statistic Details: View Download Statistic

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item