The indirect effect of physical activity on aggression among university student-athletes: the mediating role of state anger

Abstract

Introduction This study examined whether physical activity (PA) is indirectly related to aggression through state anger among university student-athletes. Grounded in contemporary models of emotion regulation and aggression in sport, the study aimed to address inconsistencies in the literature regarding the potential effects of PA on aggressive tendencies.Methods A cross-sectional survey design was employed with 284 student-athletes, and a mediation model (PROCESS Model 4) was used to explore the indirect pathway from PA to aggression via state anger.Results While no significant direct effect was found between PA and aggression, PA was positively associated with state anger, which in turn was related to higher levels of aggression. The indirect effect of PA on aggression through state anger was statistically significant, suggesting that emotional responses may play a meaningful role in the relationship between PA and aggression.Discussion These results may contribute to the sport psychology literature by offering insights into the emotional mechanisms underlying aggression in physically active populations and highlighting the potential value of monitoring situational anger in training contexts. From a practical perspective, the findings point to the potential benefit of integrating psychological skills training and anger regulation strategies into sport programs to help manage aggressive tendencies among university student athletes.