Affective temperament, coping styles and frontal functions among elite boxing and karate athletes

Kamila Litwic-Kaminska; Paulina Brzezińska; Tomasz Waldziński; Aleksandra Durzyńska; Błażej Stankiewicz; Pavol Bartík; Andrzej Kochanowicz; Jan Mieszkowski

2023, Volume 19

Affective temperament, coping styles and frontal functions among elite boxing and karate athletes

Kamila Litwic-Kaminska¹, Paulina Brzezińska², Tomasz Waldziński³, Aleksandra Durzyńska³, Błażej Stankiewicz⁴, Pavol Bartík⁵, Andrzej Kochanowicz², Jan Mieszkowski⁶

¹Faculty of Psychology, Kazimierz Wielki University, Bydgoszcz, Poland
²Faculty of Physical Education, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, Gdansk, Poland
³Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lomza, Lomza, Poland
⁴Faculty of Health Sciences and Physical Education, Kazimierz Wielki University, Bydgoszcz, Poland
⁵Department of Physical Education and Sports, Univerzita Mateja Bela v Banskej Bystrici, Banská Bystrica, Slovak Republic
⁶Faculty of Physical Education, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, Gdansk, Poland | Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

Author for correspondence: Kamila Litwic-Kaminska; Faculty of Psychology, Kazimierz Wielki University, Bydgoszcz, Poland; email: k.litwic@ukw.edu.pl

Kamila Litwic-Kaminska: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4697-5412

Paulina Brzezińska: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5274-6208

Tomasz Waldziński: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3181-6283

Aleksandra Durzyńska: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9672-4828

Błażej Stankiewicz: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6743-1073

Pavol Bartík: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2087-7876

Andrzej Kochanowicz: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5104-827X

Jan Mieszkowski: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6753-5139

Full text

Abstract

Background and Study Aim: Despite being classified into one group of combat sports, boxing and karate are two different disciplines, differing in both the technical skills required and the psychological aspects. Taking into account the insufficient interest of researchers in this issue, the aim of this study is knowledge about the difference between elite boxing and karate athletes in terms of affective temperament, styles of coping with stress and cognitive abilities, with particular emphasis on frontal functions.

Material and Methods: The sample of 52 elite combat sports male athletes, divided into two groups: boxing (n = 28) and karate (n = 24) were surveyed using self-reported questionnaires to measure affective temperament (Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Autoquestionnaire, TEMPS-A), coping styles (Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, CISS), and neuropsychological tests for assess cognitive functions (Trail Making Test, TMT; The Stroop Color and Word Test, SCWT).

Results: In both disciplines, the hyperthymic temperament traits and problem-focused coping were the most prevailing. Karate competitors showed significantly higher levels of depressive temperament. Boxers achieved a higher reading speed (shorter time in the part A of Stroop test) than karate athletes. No significant differences between sports were observed in coping styles and executive functions (the TMT and part B of SCWT tests).

Conclusions: Boxers and karate athletes differ in affective temperament traits and cognitive functions. However, regardless of the discipline, athletes prefer task-based ways of coping with stress. Applying these findings to specific groups of athletes may provide important information on the psychological aspects of training in these two sports. However, this issue requires further research in a complementary approach.

Key words: combat sports, mental training, kata, kumite, precision, self-defence, training

Cite this article as:

AMA:

Litwic-Kaminska K, Brzezińska P, Waldziński T et al. Affective temperament, coping styles and frontal functions among elite boxing and karate athletes. ARCH BUDO. 2023;19

APA:

Litwic-Kaminska, K., Brzezińska, P., Waldziński, T., Durzyńska, A., Stankiewicz, B., & Bartík, P. et al. (2023). Affective temperament, coping styles and frontal functions among elite boxing and karate athletes. ARCH BUDO, 19

Chicago:

Litwic-Kaminska, Kamila, Brzezińska Paulina, Waldziński Tomasz, Durzyńska Aleksandra, Stankiewicz Błażej, Bartík Pavol, and Kochanowicz Andrzej et al. 2023. "Affective temperament, coping styles and frontal functions among elite boxing and karate athletes". ARCH BUDO 19

Harvard:

Litwic-Kaminska, K., Brzezińska, P., Waldziński, T., Durzyńska, A., Stankiewicz, B., Bartík, P., Kochanowicz, A., and Mieszkowski, J. (2023). Affective temperament, coping styles and frontal functions among elite boxing and karate athletes. ARCH BUDO, 19

MLA:

Litwic-Kaminska, Kamila et al. "Affective temperament, coping styles and frontal functions among elite boxing and karate athletes." ARCH BUDO, vol. 19, 2023

Vancouver:

Litwic-Kaminska K, Brzezińska P, Waldziński T et al. Affective temperament, coping styles and frontal functions among elite boxing and karate athletes. ARCH BUDO 2023; 19