The Impact of Birth Order on Behavior in Contact Team Sports: the Evidence of Rugby Teams in Argentina
Abstract
Several studies have shown that birth order and the sex of siblings may have an influence on individual behavioral traits. In particular, it has been found that second brothers (of older male siblings) tend to have more disciplinary problems. If this is the case, this should also be shown in contact sports. To assess this hypothesis we use a data set from the South Rugby Union (URS) from Bah\'ia Blanca, Argentina, and information obtained by surveying more than four hundred players of that league. We find a statistically significant positive relation between being a second-born male rugby player with an older male brother and the number of yellow cards received. Keywords: Birth Order; Behavior; Contact Sports; Rugby.
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