Abstract:
The aim of this study is to investigate the relationships and interactions between religiosity, trait anxiety, and aggression. In addition, whether religiosity, trait anxiety and aggression differ by gender is discussed. A total of 415 volunteer students from different grades and departments participated in the study in 2017-2018. Data were collected by random sampling method. The Munchner Motivational Religiosity Inventory developed by Hellmeister and Zwingmann and translated into Turkish by Apaydin (2010), Buss-Perry Aggression Scale (BPSO) and Trait Anxiety Scale-16 (STAI FORM TX-2) were used. T-test and regression analyses were conducted. While the general profile of the sample in terms of religiosity and aggression was taken, it was found that the level of religiousness of the participants was high and the aggression scale was above the scale average from verbal aggression and skeptical-intellectual hostility subscales, whereas it was found that the aggressive tendencies were lower in the other subscales. Women differed from men in the relationship of religiosity with God. While males obtained higher mean scores on the unhappy and dissatisfaction subscale of the trait anxiety scale, women received a higher average than fatigue and avoidance subscale. Gender differences were also observed in the subscales of aggression. Men have higher averages than women in terms of physical aggression, emotional hostility, and anger. Continuous anxiety, emotional-cognitive hostility, emotional-reactive anger and skepticism and hostility dimensions of aggression; the dimension of religiosity with God predicts other dimensions other than skeptical and intellectual hostility. However, religiosity, religious belief, and welfare subscale explain the emotional-reactive anger dimension of aggression.
