The purpose of this study was to examine the personality characteristics, levels of aggression, and overall wellness of mixed martial artists to create a profile that will provide counselors with a working model of wellness that can be applied to the counseling population. Readers are provided with an overview of counseling and wellness, a historical context of mixed martial arts (MMA), and an examination of personality and aggression from a sport perspective. Subjects were 34 adult mixed martial artists. Quantitative data on demographic information, personality (NEO-Five-Factor Inventory [NEO-FFI]), and sport-related aggression (Bredemeier Athletic Aggression Inventory [BAAGI]) were analyzed. Subjects were men (73.5%) and women (26.5%) who scored within average levels on the Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Conscientiousness factors of the NEO-FFI and within low levels on the Agreeableness factor. Subjects obtained high levels on the Openness to Experience factor. The results of this study provide a depiction of MMA athletes who have a normal personality profile with aggression levels that fall near the mode of the BAAGI scales and have high levels of wellness based on self-reports. The only significant gender difference was observed on the Neuroticism factor, on which women ( M = 53.4, SD 3.1, T = 2.2, p = .03) scored higher than men (M = 45.8, SD 8.7), indicating that women and men have different emotional fluctuations when reacting to situations. Several relationships were found between NEO-FFI factors, aggression, and total years in MMA status, including the finding that the more years subjects were involved in MMA the less athletic aggression they reported.

Implications of this study led to the development of the Kerulis Wellness Triangle, a four-component model of wellness that encompasses individual factors, physical factors, psychological factors, and societal factors. Implementations for counseling, including assessing each component of the triangle, are discussed. Counselors can utilize the Kerulis Wellness Triangle and wellness plan to introduce balance and wellness into clients‘ lives. Recommendations for future research (obtaining larger samples, expanding the wellness construct of the study, and the continued development of each component of the wellness triangle) are provided.