Self-Reported Aggression Among University Level Football Athletes: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to measure how strongly university-level football players in Lahore, Pakistan, identified with a set of statements describing angry, hostile, or aggressive thoughts and behaviors. The goal was to understand the levels and patterns of self-reported aggression among these athletes. Methods Fifty male football players from the University of the Punjab and other universities in the region participated in this study. Since data collection took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, the researchers used an online questionnaire instead of in-person testing. The questionnaire was based on a well-established aggression scale consisting of twenty short statements, each rated on a five-point scale ranging from "not at all like me" to "completely like me." The collected responses were then analyzed using descriptive and frequency statistics in SPSS. Results Overall, most players reported low to moderate levels of aggression. Statements describing physical aggression, such as hitting or threatening someone, scored the lowest on average, suggesting these behaviors were uncommon among participants. On the other hand, statements related to irritability, disagreement, and verbal reactions to frustration scored higher, indicating that milder emotional responses were more frequently reported. Conclusion The findings suggest that while serious physical aggression is rare among the players surveyed, milder forms of anger and irritability are fairly common. This points to the value of awareness programs, anger-management training, and consistent support from coaches and sports psychologists, which could help players handle these emotions in healthier ways  ultimately protecting both their athletic performance and personal wellbeing.