ABSTRACT This study investigated the relationships among alexithymia, impulsivity, and aggression in mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes. Participants ( N = 60, 51 men, and 9 women) were recruited from MMA clubs and training centers in Lebanon. They completed self‐report measures including the Toronto Alexithymia Scale‐20 (TAS‐20) to assess alexithymia, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS‐11) to measure impulsivity, and the Buss‐Perry Aggression Scale short form (BPAS‐SF) to evaluate aggression tendencies. Results indicated that alexithymia was positively correlated with impulsivity (attentional, r = 0.41, and p < 0.01; motor, r = 0.32, and p < 0.05), aggression ( r = 0.49 and p < 0.001), and its various forms of aggression (physical, verbal, anger, and hostility). Mediation analyses showed that attentional impulsivity significantly mediated the link between alexithymia and aggression ( β = 0.10 and 95% CI 0.02, 0.22), whereas motor impulsivity accounted for a smaller portion of the effect ( β = 0.08 and 95% CI 0.00, 0.22). The direct effect remained significant ( β = 0.28 and 95% CI 0.03, 0.52), indicating partial mediation. These findings underscore the importance of emotional and behavioral regulation in competitive sports contexts, highlighting potential implications for athlete development programs.
Eid et al. (2025) studied this question.