ArticleFrontiers in psychology2026
Martial arts practice and self-identity development among college students: evidence from an embodied psychological perspective.
Article in Frontiers in psychology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Background: Emerging adulthood (18-25 years) is a critical developmental period characterized by identity exploration and psychological vulnerability. College students frequently experience stress, identity confusion, and mental health challenges. Martial arts training has been associated with psychological benefits; however, its role in identity development and the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. Grounded in an embodied psychological framework, this study examined whether an 8-week structured martial arts intervention enhances self-identity development among college students and whether embodied awareness mediates this effect. Methods: An 8-week intervention study quasi-experimental pre-post design was employed with 58 undergraduate students (aged 18-25 years) recruited from Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, China. Participants were allocated to a Martial Arts Intervention Group (MAIG; Results: Significant Time × Group interaction effects were observed for identity commitment, embodied awareness, self-esteem, and resilience (all Discussion: Findings support the embodied perspective, suggesting that structured martial arts training promotes identity consolidation through enhanced bodily awareness. Martial arts may serve as an effective, body-based intervention to foster psychological development and resilience among college students.
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