Microsoft Word Training the body and mind Examining psychological correlates of Taekwondo docx

Taekwondo in the Literature 
The research focusing on Taekwondo’s impact on psychological health, although limited, 
suggests it is associated with a number of positive outcomes. These include increased cognitive 
and affective self-regulation and prosocial behavior in children (Lakes & Hoyt, 2004), and 
reduced aggressive behavior in youth and undergraduate populations (Harwood, Lavidor, & 
Rassovsky, 2017; Parthi, 2013). Studies have also demonstrated reduced levels of anxiety 
(Kurian, Caterino, & Kulhavy, 1993), improvements in mood (San Juan, Mateo, & Pieter, 2014; 
Toskovic, 2001; Yang, Ko, & Roh, 2018), and enhanced strategies for coping with and 
managing stress (Petrovic, 2017) in Taekwondo students. 
However, Taekwondo remains an understudied sport, with many martial arts studies 
focusing on practices such as Karate (e.g., Richman & Rehberg, 1986). Outcomes associated 
with other styles of martial arts may not generalize to Taekwondo practitioners. Each martial 
arts discipline is distinct, developing independently within its own cultural context (Burke et 
al., 2007), and promoting different technical skills and practices (Toskovic, 2001). Moreover, 
conflicting findings have sometimes emerged when examining different disciplines. One study 
found that whereas Karate participation led to a reduction in state anxiety levels, Aikido 
participation was unrelated to changes in anxiety (Foster, 1997).
Relatedly, much of the previous work focusing exclusively on Taekwondo students 
concentrates only on university-age samples (e.g., Finkenberg, 1990; Toskovic, 2001; Petrovic, 
2017) or children (Lakes & Hoyt, 2004). Taekwondo training centers often offer classes for 
students of all ages; thus, it is imperative to explore the experiences of older Taekwondo 
practitioners as well. The results from studies conducted only on young adult samples cannot 
necessarily be generalized to middle-aged or older adult populations, indicating a need for more 
research on martial artists who fall within these age groups 

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International Journal of Martial Arts