Martial arts practice and self-identity development among college students: evidence from an embodied psychological perspective

BackgroundEmerging 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.MethodsAn 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; n = 29) or a Waitlist Control Group (WCG; n = 29). The MAIG completed an 8-week instructor-led training program (3 sessions/week), while the WCG maintained usual activities. Self-identity (EIPQ), embodied awareness (MAIA-2), self-esteem (Rosenberg Scale), and resilience (CD-RISC-10) were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Mixed-design ANOVA and bootstrapped mediation analyses (PROCESS Model 4; 5,000 resamples) were conducted.ResultsSignificant Time × Group interaction effects were observed for identity commitment, embodied awareness, self-esteem, and resilience (all p < 0.001). The intervention group showed large improvements across all outcomes (partial η2 = 0.618, 0.781). Mediation analysis revealed that changes in embodied awareness significantly mediated the relationship between group assignment and changes in identity commitment (95% CI did not include zero), indicating partial mediation.DiscussionFindings 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.