The effects of regular physical exercise on violent behavior, coping with stress and self-confidence in male prisoners of a closed prison

Objective: In this study, it was planned to investigate the effects of regular physical exercise on violence, coping with stress and self-esteem at male prisoners staying in a closed prison. Methods: The sociodemographic data form and clinical scales were applied to 98 male prisoners who had not been subject to disciplinary punishment in the last month, 46 of whom had regular physical exercise for 6 months. Results: The mean age of the sample was 33.62±8.94, and the level of education was 8.20±2.81 years and mean length of stay in prison was 43±73 months. It was learned that both groups had generally sports habits (%91.8) in their childhood, and that there were intensive alcohol (42%), substance use (49%) and prison life (%60.2) in the past. There was a statistically significant differ-ence in the sporting group, subscales of physical, verbal and indirect aggression of the aggression inventory and the self-esteem subscale of scale of coping with stress. Conclusion: Our findings support the possibility of using physical activity as a control mechanism in the prevention of aggressive expression. Therefore, it may be thought that the use of physical exercise as an additional treatment in groups with high violent behavior may increase treatment success. [Anadolu Psikiyatri Derg 2019; 20(6.000): 619-626]