Exploring the Relationship Between Academic, Demographic, and Sport Related Variables on Aggression: An Examination of Male Student-Athletes Enrolled in Texas High Schools

The purpose of this non-experimental, regression study was to examine the relationships and contributions between six demographic predictor variables (ethnicity, socio-economic status, type of sport, grade level, level of sport participation, and self-reported acts of off-the-field physical aggression/fighting) on aggression (criterion variable), among male athletes enrolled in four high schools in Southeast Texas. To assess aggression levels, respondents completed a modified version of the Sport Behavior Inventory (SBI). This study utilized a hierarchical regression analysis to examine contributions made by variables to the overall model and relationships between variables. The analysis of data illustrated a strong relationship between type of sport and self-reported acts of off-the-field physical aggression/fighting and aggression. Results indicated that demographic and sport related variables had a statistically significant relationship with aggression levels of male high school athletes