The Effect of Differing Levels of Physical Activity on Dispositional Mindfulness, Trait Anxiety, and Trait Aggression

Background Regular sporting activity can lead to favorable personality changes in addition to positive psychological effects. Our goal was to examine and compare university freshmen with differing sporting habits, so we measured athletes who are competitors (1), regularly active but non-competitor athletes (2) and inactive students (3). Material and methods We conducted a cross-sectional study among volunteer university freshmen (mean age 18.98 years) from the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs (Hungary) (n=109). We used self-edited sociodemographic and sporting habits questions and validated, standardized paper-and-pencil tests: Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Mindfulness Attention and Awareness Scale, and the Buss and Perry’s Aggression Questionnaire. Results Using an independent sample T-test, we found that athletes who are competitors (1) showed significantly higher dispositional mindfulness levels (t=-2.050; p=.043) and significantly lower anxiety levels (t=3.370; p=.001) than the inactive group (3). Considering trait aggression, we found significant difference only in the subscale anger among those students who practice sport regularly and those who are inactive (p=.050, Z=-1.933). The trait aggression total score did not exhibit a relationship with sporting activity in our sample. Conclusions Intensive and regular physical activity facilitates psychological factors which support individual well-being.