The Relationship Between Alexithymia, Impulsivity, and Aggression in Mixed Martial Arts Athletes

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.