Are all types of empathy associated with lower aggression in athletes? A cross-sectional study on Iranian athletes
Abstract Background This study aimed to evaluate the association between cognitive and affective empathy and aggression in a sample of Iranian athletes. Methods We designed a cross-sectional study. The participants were selected by multistage random sampling among six colleges in Tehran, Iran’s capi...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-022-00985-4 |
| _version_ | 1811210818125037568 |
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| author | Elham Mahmoudi Amin Nakhostin-Ansari Maryam Ranjbar Amir Hossein Memari |
| author_facet | Elham Mahmoudi Amin Nakhostin-Ansari Maryam Ranjbar Amir Hossein Memari |
| author_sort | Elham Mahmoudi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background This study aimed to evaluate the association between cognitive and affective empathy and aggression in a sample of Iranian athletes. Methods We designed a cross-sectional study. The participants were selected by multistage random sampling among six colleges in Tehran, Iran’s capital. We used the interpersonal reactivity index (IRI) to evaluate empathy, and Reactive Proactive Aggression Questionnaire, and the Buss–Perry aggression questionnaire to evaluate aggression. Results In total, 492 athletes with a mean age of 27.42 years (SD = 7.72) participated in the study, of which 298 (60.6%) were male, and 194 (39.4%) were female. IRI’s fantasy and personal distress subscales scores were positively associated with proactive and reactive aggression scores (p < 0.05). The score of the perspective-taking subscale of IRI was negatively associated with proactive and reactive aggression scores (p < 0.05). The score of the empathic concern subscale of IRI had a negative association with the proactive aggression score (p < 0.001). The score of the perspective-taking subscale of IRI had negative associations with all Buss–Perry aggression questionnaire subscales’ scores (p < 0.05). The score of the personal distress subscale of IRI had positive associations with all Buss–Perry aggression questionnaire subscales’ scores (p < 0.05), except with the verbal aggression subscale score. The score of the fantasy subscale of IRI was positively associated with the score of the hostility subscale of the Buss–Perry questionnaire (p = 0.001). Conclusion Perspective-taking is negatively associated with all kinds of aggression in athletes. Future studies can be conducted to determine the possible role of perspective-taking in preventive aggression, which can be a target for interventions. On the other hand, the score of the personal distress subscale of IRI is positively associated with all types of aggression scores, indicating that not all types of empathy inhibit aggression in athletes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T05:02:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3c8b534b8cff414d9473cc3b1aed7315 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T05:02:22Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-3c8b534b8cff414d9473cc3b1aed73152022-12-22T03:46:58ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832022-11-0110111110.1186/s40359-022-00985-4Are all types of empathy associated with lower aggression in athletes? A cross-sectional study on Iranian athletesElham Mahmoudi0Amin Nakhostin-Ansari1Maryam Ranjbar2Amir Hossein Memari3Sports Medicine Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical SciencesSports Medicine Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical SciencesSports Medicine Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical SciencesSports Medicine Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background This study aimed to evaluate the association between cognitive and affective empathy and aggression in a sample of Iranian athletes. Methods We designed a cross-sectional study. The participants were selected by multistage random sampling among six colleges in Tehran, Iran’s capital. We used the interpersonal reactivity index (IRI) to evaluate empathy, and Reactive Proactive Aggression Questionnaire, and the Buss–Perry aggression questionnaire to evaluate aggression. Results In total, 492 athletes with a mean age of 27.42 years (SD = 7.72) participated in the study, of which 298 (60.6%) were male, and 194 (39.4%) were female. IRI’s fantasy and personal distress subscales scores were positively associated with proactive and reactive aggression scores (p < 0.05). The score of the perspective-taking subscale of IRI was negatively associated with proactive and reactive aggression scores (p < 0.05). The score of the empathic concern subscale of IRI had a negative association with the proactive aggression score (p < 0.001). The score of the perspective-taking subscale of IRI had negative associations with all Buss–Perry aggression questionnaire subscales’ scores (p < 0.05). The score of the personal distress subscale of IRI had positive associations with all Buss–Perry aggression questionnaire subscales’ scores (p < 0.05), except with the verbal aggression subscale score. The score of the fantasy subscale of IRI was positively associated with the score of the hostility subscale of the Buss–Perry questionnaire (p = 0.001). Conclusion Perspective-taking is negatively associated with all kinds of aggression in athletes. Future studies can be conducted to determine the possible role of perspective-taking in preventive aggression, which can be a target for interventions. On the other hand, the score of the personal distress subscale of IRI is positively associated with all types of aggression scores, indicating that not all types of empathy inhibit aggression in athletes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-022-00985-4AggressionAthletesEmpathySports |
| spellingShingle | Elham Mahmoudi Amin Nakhostin-Ansari Maryam Ranjbar Amir Hossein Memari Are all types of empathy associated with lower aggression in athletes? A cross-sectional study on Iranian athletes BMC Psychology Aggression Athletes Empathy Sports |
| title | Are all types of empathy associated with lower aggression in athletes? A cross-sectional study on Iranian athletes |
| title_full | Are all types of empathy associated with lower aggression in athletes? A cross-sectional study on Iranian athletes |
| title_fullStr | Are all types of empathy associated with lower aggression in athletes? A cross-sectional study on Iranian athletes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Are all types of empathy associated with lower aggression in athletes? A cross-sectional study on Iranian athletes |
| title_short | Are all types of empathy associated with lower aggression in athletes? A cross-sectional study on Iranian athletes |
| title_sort | are all types of empathy associated with lower aggression in athletes a cross sectional study on iranian athletes |
| topic | Aggression Athletes Empathy Sports |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-022-00985-4 |
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