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Purpose
Findings are mixed with regard to the link between contact sport participation and aggression. One possibility is that contact sport participation may be associated with instrumental aggression but not hostile aggression. The purpose of this paper is to employ a quasi-experimental design to investigate the prediction that young men who regularly participated in contact sports during high school, compared to those who did not, exhibit a greater disposition toward aggression in response to a non-provoking situation (instrumental aggression) and no dispositional difference in response to a provoking situation (hostile aggression).


Design/methodology/approach
The Taylor Aggression Paradigm was used to manipulate three levels of provocation (no provocation, low provocation, high provocation) and observe aggressive behavior in participants who varied in contact sport participants (yes, no).


Findings
Results indicated a significant two-way interaction between provocation level and contact sport participation such that contact sport participation positively predicted aggression before provocation was initiated (instrumental aggression), not after (hostile aggression).


Originality/value
This is one of only a limited number of studies to examine the link between contact sport participation and aggression at varying levels of provocation. Findings suggest the form of aggression associated with contact sport participation is predominately instrumental.

Over the past decade, the use of integrative health modalities, such as mind-body interventions, art therapy, nutrition, and exercise, to treat stress-related mental health conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in military and veteran populations has been increasing. The use of integrative therapies for PTSD provides options for veterans who are not interested in traditional modalities, have limited access to traditional treatments, or are seeking a more comprehensive approach to managing their PTSD or subthreshold symptoms. These therapies show promise for improving overall well-being and comorbid conditions with PTSD, such as pain or migraines, but yield mixed data for PTSD symptoms. The aim of this article is to review the evidence for the most promising integrative health modalities for treating PTSD, with a special focus on the treatment of veterans, as well as to offer recommendations and suggestions for clinicians.