Relationship between Team Identification and Aggression among Medical Students at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; A CrossSectional Study
Author(s): Ibrahim Alshayea, Abdulaziz Alalwan, Faisal Alshuwair, Yousef Alluhaymid, Nouf Alburaykan, Njoud Alali
Objective: To discuss the relationship between aggression and team identification among sports fans of the Saudi Pro League (SPL) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we used an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. Answering the questionnaire is considered consent from the participants to participate in the survey. Our population is the medical students at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The attached questionnaire form was distributed in the form of online-based copies through Email and WhatsApp. The form was filled out by medical students from both sexes. There was a section in the questionnaire measuring the sports fandom of the participant and another one for the team identification level. Also, a section about the level of aggressiveness was provided to measure its association with team identification. The aggressiveness was compared between low and high levels of team identification.
Results: A total of 340 participants were included in the analysis. The gender distribution showed that 46.8% (159 individuals) were female, and 53.2% (181 individuals) were male. The mean age was 21.69 years, and the middle value (median) was 22.00 years, with a standard deviation of 1.474. Range spanned 9 years, from 18 to 27 years. Correlation tests revealed a strong correlation between the Sport Fandom Score and the Team identification score (r = 0.842, p < 0.01). The correlation between the Sport Fandom Score and the Combined Aggression score was moderate and positive (r = 0.241, p < 0.01), and the correlation between the Team identification score and Combined Aggression score (r = 0.221, p < 0.01).
Conclusion: Our findings suggest the presence of a correlation between fans of sports or clubs and aggression. Aggression increases with increasing team and sports fandom.