1. Exploration of Martial Arts
Practice on Self Efficacy
and Overall Wellness
TIPHANIE GONZALEZ, PHD
ADAM SCHWARTZ
BRENDA MCAUSLAND
SUNY OSWEGO

2. Martial Arts and Wellness
•How do Martial Arts and Wellness connect?
• Stress Reduction
• Mind-Body Approach
•Participation and Discipline
•Exercise and Self-Esteem
•Ability and Self-Confidence
•Overall Self-Efficacy

3. Bandura and Self-Efficacy
Bandura expounded on the possibilities of increasing self-efficacy
and its potential for improving health-both physical and mental; and
the role this may play in reducing high risk behavior in clients of all
ages (Bandura, 1995).
So why is this important?

4. Building Relationships
•Strengths of attending class.
•The role of traditions in martial arts.
•Camaraderie between classmates.
•Discipline

5. Bandura and Self-Efficacy…cont’d
Bandura described self-efficacy as the individual’s belief regarding their own capabilities to
affect influence over events in their lives. He proposed that “mastery of experiences” was the
most effective means of increasing one’s self-efficacy. As one develops mastery of a task or
behavior, there is an increased level of control over the execution of said behavior- such as when
and where it occurs, or the duration and intensity exhibited. It stands to reason that successfully
learning to perform a complex series of tasks -such as those required for the mastery of a
martial arts form would require perseverance as one deals with obstacles and missteps during
the process. Bandura believes that by remaining diligent in one’s efforts, we are able to learn to
become more resilient and better able to overcome adversity (Bandura, 1994).

6. Vicarious Learning
•Building self-esteem, wellness and self-efficacy by observation.
• Influence of:
• Instructors
• Classmates
• Professionals

7. Exercise
•Physiological benefits of exercise
• Increased Endorphins
• Weight loss/ Weight Maintenance
• Increased Strength
• Increased Flexibility
• Other Health Benefits

8. Wheel of Wellness

9. Research Questions
•Is there a relationship between Martial Arts practice and perceived wellness?
•Is there a relationship between Martial Arts and perceived self-efficacy?

10. Methodology
•Instrument: Demographic Questions, Survey (12 questions), sent electronically
•Participants and Setting: Undergraduate and Graduate students enrolled at a North-Eastern US
college.
• 341 participants opened the survey, 139 having Martial Arts experience.
• Altogether 90 surveys were eligible for inclusion into the study.

11. Participants
•Of the 90 participants 37.8% were female, 61.1% were male and 1.1% reported
as other, self identifying as gender queer; 7.8% were African American/Black,
6.7% were Biracial/Multiracial, 72.2% were Caucasian/White, and 12.2% were
Latino/Hispanic. Ages ranged from 18 to 48, with 85.8% between the ages of 18
to 23.

12. Results
Questions identified as positively looking at Self-efficacy and wellness were largely rated positively by
participants and vice-versa. Specifically…
 There was a statistically significant relationship between feelings of increased positivity since starting martial
arts training and the participants ability to handle stress (rs [90]=.596, p<.001).
 There was a statistically significant relationship between feelings of increased positivity since starting martial
arts training and participants noticing that they had become sick less often (rs [88]= .44, p,.001).
 There was a statistically significant relationship between feelings of increased self-confidence when handling
everyday obstacles and self-reported beliefs that martial arts has improved their social relationships (rs
[90]=.493, p<.001)
 There was a statistically significant relationship between participants beliefs that their physical appearance
had improved increased feelings of positivity since starting martial arts (rs [90]=.529, p,.001).
Race, Gender and Years practicing martial arts largely did not have an effect on how participants
answered survey questions.

13. So what does this mean?
•The findings for this study further supports that participation in activities like martial arts has
positive effects on participants health and wellness.
•Implications for Counselors:
• Benefits of Martial Arts in Counseling
• Movement Based Therapy

14. References
Bandura, A. (1995). Self-Efficacy in Changing Societies. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge
University Press