Aggression management strategies: inmates respond positively to the use of soccer as a resocialization program

Background: Penal institutions have the rehabilitation and resocialization of criminals as their primary aim, transforming and reintegrating them back into society as productive citizens. One possible way of accomplishing this is through the practice of sports, which may be beneficial for the reintegration of these detainees into society. Objective: To investigate the effect of playing soccer on the aggression of inmates at a maximum-security prison. Methods: This was a descriptive and quantitative cross-sectional study to characterize the rate of aggression among those who practice soccer and those who do not, and to assess if the mean aggression score of detainees is affected by interference from playing soccer. The study population consisted of inmates at a maximum-security prison. Participants were divided in two groups: those who practiced soccer (n=100) and those who did not (n=100) from a population of 523 inmates. The Buss & Perry Aggression Questionnaire was used to quantify aggression, and the student t test was used for all comparisons. Results: Mean aggression score was 2.07±0.30 for those who played soccer and 3.55±0.37 for those who did not, p<0.0001. For the specific components of aggression, physical and verbal aggression, anger, and hostility, we also identified statistically significant differences (p<0.0001) between groups. Conclusions: Detainees who play soccer present less overall aggression, as well as in each of the aggression components. From our study, it was possible to conclude that there is a positive relationship between playing soccer and a lower level of aggression among detainees.