2019, Volume 15
Trait aggression in young Hungarian practitioners of Japanese martial arts
Kata Morvay-Sey1, Erzsébet Rétsági1, Ágnes Pálvölgyi2, Ákos Braun2, András Oláh3, Józef Bergier4, Pongrác Ács1
1Institute of Physiotherapy and Sport Science, University of Pécs Faculty of Health Sciences, Pécs, Hungary
2Doctoral School of Health Sciences, University of Pécs Faculty of Health Sciences, Pécs, Hungary
3Institute of Nursing Sciences, Basic Health Sciences and Health Visiting, University of Pécs Faculty of Health Sciences, Pécs, Hungary
4Health and Social Sciences Department, Pope John II State School of Higher Education, Health and Social Sciences Departemnt, Poland
Author for correspondence: Kata Morvay-Sey; Institute of Physiotherapy and Sport Science, University of Pécs Faculty of Health Sciences, Pécs, Hungary; email: kata.morvay.sey@gmail.com
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Abstract
Background and Study Aim: We hypothesized: (H1) there is a significant difference between genders in the total score of trait aggression and subscales (verbal, physical aggression, hostility and anger) in both groups (budo and control group), wherein the boys exhibit a higher score of trait aggression than girls significantly; (H2) there is a significant difference in the trait aggression total score and the sub-scales scores based on school type, wherein the vocational school students would achieve the highest, whereas high school students the lowest values in both groups (budo and control group); (H3) budo martial arts practitioners are characterized significantly lower trait aggression (total scores) than their counterparts of the same age, and youngsters practising martial arts also had a significantly lower value for all aggression subclasses than their peers in the control group; (H4) the length of sport practice, the number of workouts, and competitive variables of budo group have a significant correlation, with trait aggression (the total score and the value of the sub-scales). This study aims to verify this hypothesis.
Materials and Methods: This study examined students between the ages of 14 and 18 (n = 1,488). There were 149 people in the budo group who had been practising for at least a year spending at least one and a half hours twice a week in martial arts classes. The control group consisted of 1,339 students. The Buss-Perry Questionnaire (AQ) was used. IBM SPSS Statistics 22 were used for statistical analysis. Results were considered as significant if p<0.05.
Results: In the control group, the score for trait aggression and the score for the physical sub-scale for the boys was significantly higher than for the girls. However, in the verbal aggression category and the anger subcategory, there is a significant difference in favour of girls. In the martial arts group there was only a significant difference in the physical aggression subscale score for males; but not in the total score and other sub-scales. There was a significant difference in scores based on the type of schooling in the control group. In both groups, those in vocational school had the highest trait-aggression score. Budo practitioners had a lower trait-aggression level; their trait-aggression overall score and the subscale scores were also significantly lower than those of the control group. However, competitors have significantly lower levels of hostility.
Conclusions: Negative prejudices against martial arts athletes practitioners to the effect that they would be more aggressive than average were not proven in the investigation.
Key words: aggressiveness, budo, Buss-Perry Questionnaire, iaido