Differences in Handedness and Scores of Aggressiveness and Interpersonal Relations of Soccer Players

Abstract

Handedness and differences in interpersonal relations and aggressiveness were studied in 33 right-handed ( M age = 22.9 yr., SD = 4.9) and 18 left-handed ( M age = 22.5 yr., SD = 2.4) male soccer players who played actively in professional soccer leagues of Turkey. Hand preference on the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory and scores for destructiveness, assertiveness, and passive aggressiveness on a Turkish Aggressiveness Inventory, plus scores for sociability, benevolence, tenderheartedness, tolerance, and insistence on the Turkish Interpersonal Relations Inventory were examined. Mean destructive aggressiveness was higher for the left- than the right-handed athletes. Means on tolerance and insistence were higher for the right- than the left-handed athletes. Higher aggressiveness and less tolerance and insistence in the left-handers may be associated with their higher sports performance.