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

Kamila Litwic-Kaminska; Paulina Brzezinska; 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 Brzezinska², Tomasz Waldziński³, Aleksandra Durzyńska⁴, Błażej Stankiewicz⁵, Pavol Bartík⁶, Andrzej Kochanowicz², Jan Mieszkowski⁷

¹Kazimierz Wielki University, Faculty of Psychology, Bydgoszcz, Poland | Department of Physical Education and Sports, Univerzita Mateja Bela v Banskej Bystrici, Banská Bystrica, Slovak Republic
²Faculty of Physical Education, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, Gdańsk, Poland | Department of Physical Education and Sports, Univerzita Mateja Bela v Banskej Bystrici, Banská Bystrica, Slovak Republic
³Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lomza, Lomza, Poland | Department of Physical Education and Sports, Univerzita Mateja Bela v Banskej Bystrici, Banská Bystrica, Slovak Republic
⁴Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lomza, Lomza, Poland
⁵Department of Physical Education and Sports, Univerzita Mateja Bela v Banskej Bystrici, Banská Bystrica, Slovak Republic | Faculty of Health Sciences and Physical Education, Kazimierz Wielki University, Bydgoszcz, Poland
⁶5Department of Physical Education and Sports, Univerzita Mateja Bela v Banskej Bystrici, Banská Bystrica, Slovak Republic
⁷Faculty of Physical Education, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, Gdańsk, Poland | Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic | Department of Physical Education and Sports, Univerzita Mateja Bela v , Banská Bystrica, Slovak Republic

Author for correspondence: Kamila Litwic-Kaminska; Kazimierz Wielki University, Faculty of Psychology, Bydgoszcz, Poland | Department of Physical Education and Sports, Univerzita Mateja Bela v Banskej Bystrici, Banská Bystrica, Slovak Republic; email: kamilalitwic@gmail.com

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

Paulina Brzezinska: 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

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