The moderating role of attachment styles in the relationship between psychological commitment and aggression among football fans

Introduction: This study examined how attachment styles condition the relationship between football fans' psychological commitment and aggressive tendencies. Methods: The sample consisted of 561 adult football supporters who identified themselves as long-term and highly committed fans. A moderation framework was employed to test whether attachment orientations shape the strength and expression of the association between psychological commitment and aggression. Results: Moderation analyses revealed that higher psychological commitment was generally associated with increased aggression; however, this relationship varied significantly as a function of attachment style. Secure attachment attenuated the positive association between commitment and aggression, whereas anxious ambivalent and avoidant attachment styles were associated with higher baseline levels of aggression. Discussion: Attachment styles function as regulatory lenses through which strong emotional investment in a team translates into either controlled or aggressive responses, offering important implications for prevention and intervention strategies in football environments.