Article
Well-being warriors: A randomized controlled trial examining the effects of martial arts training on secondary students’ resilience
Brian Moore,
Stuart Woodcock, Dean Dudley,
Corresponding Author
Brian Moore
Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, NSW, Australia
Corresponding should be addressed to Brian Moore, Faculty of Arts and Education, School of Teacher Education, Charles Sturt University, Panorama Avenue, Bathurst NSW 2795 Australia (e-mail: [email protected]).
Search for more papers by this authorBrian Moore,
Stuart Woodcock, Dean Dudley,
Corresponding Author
Brian Moore
Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, NSW, Australia
Corresponding should be addressed to Brian Moore, Faculty of Arts and Education, School of Teacher Education, Charles Sturt University, Panorama Avenue, Bathurst NSW 2795 Australia (e-mail: [email protected]).
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Background
Mental health problems are a growing and significant issue in the Australian education system. Research has suggested that resilience can be learned and that schools can play an important role in developing resilient skills among youth; however, rigorous evaluation of interventions promoting resilience is limited.
Aims
As martial arts training has been found to have psychological benefits such as increased confidence and self-esteem, this study investigated whether a 10-week martial arts training programme was an efficacious sports-based mental health intervention that promoted resilience in secondary school students.
Sample
Two hundred and eighty-three secondary school students (age range 12–14 years) participated in the study.
Methods
The study examined the effects of martial arts training on participants’ resilience by delivering a 10-week martial arts-based intervention in secondary school settings. The intervention was evaluated using quantitative methodology and an experimental research design using a randomized controlled trial which measured participant responses at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up.
Results
The study found that the martial arts-based intervention had a significantly positive effect on developing students’ resilience. This was especially apparent when the intervention and control group’s mean resilience outcomes were compared. Resilience outcomes appeared to be stronger immediately following the intervention compared with 12-week follow-up.
Conclusions
Given the prevalence of mental illness among Australian youth, the current study provides robust evidence that students’ resilience can be improved using martial arts-based interventions delivered in school settings.
Trial Registration
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Register ACTRN12618001405202. Registered 21 August 2018.
Conflict of interest
All authors declare no conflict of interest.
Open Research
Data availability statement
The datasets used and analysed during the current study will be available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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