Investigation of the relationship between coach behaviours and aggression and violence tendency in combat athletes

Delikurt M. Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Health Sciences Institute, Midwifery Program, Master Thesis, Aydın, 2023 Objective: In this study, it was aimed to examine the effect of coach behaviours on the aggression and violence tendencies of combat athletes and to determine the differences in terms of various variables. Material and Methods: The research was carried out with 223 female and 285 male athletes between the ages of 14 and 40, who are licensed in Boxing, Kickboxing, Muaythai and Wushu branches in the provinces of the Aegean Region. In the study, ''Personal Information Form'' was used as a data collection tool in order to reach the demographic information of the participants, ''Buss Perry Aggression Tendency Scale'' was used to measure the aggression tendencies of the participants, ''Violence Tendency Scale'' was used to measure the violence tendencies of the participants and ''Coaches' Behaviour Assessment Scale for Athletes'' was used to measure the coach behaviours perceived by the athletes. SPSS (Statistical Programme For Social Sciences) was used for data analysis. Results: It was determined that aggression tendencies of licensed combat athletes were a significant predictor of violence tendencies. As the aggression tendencies of the athletes increase, their violence tendencies also increase. It was determined that the aggression levels of the athletes participating in the study were generally low. It is seen that the violence tendencies of the athletes are also at a low level. While the aggression tendencies of women are significantly higher than the aggression tendencies of men, there is no significant difference in violence tendencies. When the aggression tendencies of the athletes were compared according to the branches, it was determined that the athletes who were interested in boxing had a significantly higher level of aggression tendency than the athletes who were interested in kickboxing. When the violence tendencies of the athletes were compared according to the branches, it was determined that the athletes who were interested in boxing had a significantly higher level of violence tendency than the athletes who were interested in Muaythai and Wushu. It is seen that the coach behaviours perceived by the athletes are positive. It was determined that there was a negative relationship between the positive behaviours of the coaches and the aggression and violence tendency of the athletes, and there was a positive relationship between the negative coach behaviours and the aggression and violence tendency. Athletes working with coaches with postgraduate education have a higher level of aggression tendency than athletes working with coaches with undergraduate education. When the violence tendencies of the athletes were evaluated in terms of the educational level of the coaches, no significant difference was found between the groups. Conclusion: In this study, it was concluded that coach behaviours have an effect on the aggression and violence tendencies of athletes, positive coach behaviours decrease the aggression and violence tendency of athletes, while negative coach behaviours increase the aggression and violence tendency. As a result of these findings, suggestions were presented to parents, coaches, federations, athletes and new researchers. Keywords: Aggression, Violence, Combat Sports, Martial Athletes, Coach Behaviour