Background/Purpose Culturally-based recreation activities such as Taekwondo may foster positive cross-cultural contacts between participants and the actual activities and alleviate negative effects associated with cultural differences by acknowledging cultural similarities and differences. Such activities can be the catalysts for meaningful personal growth even though participants have different cultural values and beliefs. This study examined the relationship between Taekwondo participation and the development of participants as reflected by their personal growth, physical health, and mental health.
Method The sample consisted of 167 adults who were enrolled at eight Taekwondo academies in different cities in the United States. A modified Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996) and Ware, Kosinski, and Keller's (1996) SF-12 Health Survey were used to examine study variables. Pearson correlation coefficients were computed and examined to identify underlying relationships among study variables. Mean scores of PTGI subscales between the high training group and low training group were compared using independent sample t tests.
Analysis/Results Results revealed that participants experienced personal growth (e.g., relating to others, new possibilities, personal strength, appreciation of life, and spiritual change). The total score on personal growth was positively related to mental health. That is, participants who scored high on personal growth factors tended to report more positive mental health. Significant positive correlations were found between subscales (relating to others, new possibilities, spiritual change, and appreciation of life) and mental health.
Conclusions Therefore, the recreation activity of Taekwondo that promotes cross-cultural contact appears to be associated with personal growth and positive mental health.
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