Aggression among martial arts practitioners: a comparative study and an investigation into the role of personality traits and self-control in reducing aggression

Abstract

The relationship between martial arts practice and aggression remains contentious, with research often yielding conflicting results due to methodological flaws. Moreover, a gap exists in understanding the underlying mechanisms linking training to reduced or increased aggression. The current study aimed to explore this issue by comparing the aggression levels of males from three groups: martial arts practitioners, football and rugby practitioners, and individuals from the general population who do not regularly participate in sports. The current study additionally aimed to assess potential explanatory mechanisms for reduced levels of aggression among martial arts practitioners, highlighting the role of personality traits and self-control. The results indicated lower aggression among martial arts practitioners, as well as higher self-control, emotional stability, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. A mediation model exploring how personality traits and self-control relate to training and aggression among martial arts practitioners yielded significant results, indicating that longer training periods were associated with elevated levels of self-control, emotional stability, agreeableness, and conscientiousness, which in turn were associated with reduced aggression. The findings suggest that practicing martial arts may have a positive influence on aspects of personality, self-control, and aggression, providing insights into potential mechanisms through which training martial arts may contribute to reducing aggression.