EXPLORING AGGRESSION, EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, AND LONELINESS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF OUTDOOR SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS AND ONLINE GAMERS AMONG YOUNG MALES

This study examined whether young males engaged in outdoor sports differ from online gamers in aggression, emotional intelligence, and loneliness.A sample of 210 male college students, equally divided between outdoor sports players and online gamers, completed the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale, and UCLA Loneliness Scale.A one-way ANOVA revealed no significant differences between the two groups across all variables.These findings challenge prevailing stereotypes that link online gaming with increased aggression or outdoor sports with superior emotional well-being.Both activities offer unique yet comparable opportunities for social interaction and emotional engagement.These results suggest that factors such as personality traits, quality of social connections, and coping strategies may play a more decisive role in shaping aggression, emotional intelligence, and loneliness than the specific nature of recreational activities.The study underscores the importance of developing holistic mental health strategies that support young adults across various recreational preferences.