Roji Maharjan

Project Green Circle, Nepal

Title: A qualitative study on the Role of Taekwondo in promoting psychological wellbeing of practitioners

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Biography

Abstract

Taekwondo is widely practised in Nepal as a form of martial arts. The sport started in 1983; it is played in all seven provinces of Nepal. Taekwondo is commonly perceived for physical fitness, self-defence and competitive achievement. However, its psychological  well-being dimensions are often overlooked.

Beyond physical development, this sport helps emotional regulation and enhances self-esteem, resilience and analysis skills, which are significant for psychological wellbeing. Today, the primary concern of Nepali parents is that their children are digital screen-centric, disrespectful and have little to no socialisation, but taekwondo provides structured training in a team with a coach helping people develop social skills and teamwork. 

Unfortunately, these factors have been overlooked by players as well as researchers. In Nepal, there is no research conducted in sports psychology, so this paper can be a significant trajectory for many other researchers and for the sports community. This study will examine the role of taekwondo in promoting psychological wellbeing among youths of Nepal following the biopsychosocial model.This model developed by Engel (1977)  is an interdisciplinary model that focuses on holistic factors of health, illness and wellbeing, it states that wellbeing cannot be understood through one factor but through combination of biological, psychological, social and cultural factors. This scientific framework helps to understand the role of taekwondo in overall wellbeing particularly focusing on the psychological aspects of practitioners.

This study is a case study design using in-depth interviews, key information interviews (KII) and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) to collect data from the taekwondo practitioners aged 18-40 years. Through the thematic analysis, the researcher aims to highlight the holistic benefits of taekwondo  in the lives of practitioners. The findings will raise awareness of the taekwondo community and also pave the path for future researchers, especially in Nepal, where sport psychology is least prioritised.