Effects of taekwondo intervention on cognitive function and academic self-efficacy in children

Impact of Taekwondo training on cognitive and physical function in elderly individuals: A comprehensive review of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Researchers have investigated the physical and psychosocial advantages of Taekwondo for older adults. However, prior studies of Taekwondo's impact on physical function and psychological well-being in this demographic have produced inconsistent findings. Thus, this systematic review aimed to assess how Taekwondo practice affects the physical function and psychological well-being of older adults.

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, Korea Education and Research Information Service, Korean Studies Information Service System, Korean National Assembly Library, Research Information Sharing Service, National Digital Science Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure from their inception to December 2023. Two reviewers independently selected and extracted data from each study. We calculated effect sizes using a random-effects model with a 95 % confidence interval (CI) and evaluated study quality using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale.

RESULTS

This review included ten studies with 227 participants aged 66.1-73.6 years. The meta-analysis revealed significant enhancements in cognitive function [Korean Version of Mini-Mental State Examination, standard mean difference (SMD) = 0.700, 95 % CI (0.364-1.037), I2 = 0 %, p < .001], blood indicators [β-amyloid, SMD = 0.613, 95 % CI (0.103-1.123), I2 = 34.920 %, p < .05; brain-derived neurotrophic factor, SMD = 0.566, 95 % CI (0.166-0.966), I2 = 0 %, p < .01; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, SMD = 0.677, 95 % CI (0.357-0.966), I2 = 0 %, p < .001; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, SMD = 0.809, 95 % CI (0.376-1.242), I2 = 42.621 %, p < .001; and total cholesterol, SMD = 0.979, 95 % CI (0.603-1.356), I2 = 22.221 %, p < .001], and physical function [lean body mass, SMD = 0.465, 95 % CI (0.109-0.821), I2 = 0 %, p < .05, and handgrip strength, SMD = 0.929, 95 % CI (0.194-1.663), I2 = 48.217 %, p < .05].

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis indicates that Taekwondo training is a beneficial therapy with protective effects on cognitive function, physical function, and body composition in older adults. These findings highlight its potential significance in cognitive rehabilitation and physiological health promotion among this demographic population.

Does sport type matter? The effect of sport discipline on cognitive control strategies in preadolescents

This study aimed to test the effects of specific sport practices on cognitive sensory-motor performance and underlying brain functions in children. Behavioral performance and event-related potentials (ERP) were investigated during a cognitive visuomotor task in 64 preadolescent children practicing racket (Rack) sports, martial arts (Mart), indoor climbing (Clim), or not practicing any sport (controls, Cont). At the behavioral level, response speed and accuracy were studied. At the electrophysiological level, motor, cognitive and sensory-attentional readiness, and post-perceptual attentional functions were investigated. Behavioral results showed that Mart players had the fastest response time (RT). Rack players had the most consistent RT and committed the lowest omission errors. Clim athletes were the most accurate in terms of false alarms. ERP results showed that motor readiness was largest in Mart players. The Rack group had the largest cognitive preparation and the Clim one had the largest sensory-attentional readiness activity. Rack and Mart players had the largest activity associated with post-perceptual attentional processing. This result shows that practicing specific sports may allow differential benefits on cognitive processing. Racket sports seem to stimulate action speed consistency and improve accuracy for omissions, increasing cognitive preparation, and post-perceptual attentional processing. Mart practice may allow a more speed-oriented response behavior, probably due to large motor preparation and allocation of post-perceptual attentional resources, but only when response execution is required. Indoor climbing may favor response accuracy reducing unwanted responses as indexed by an increased sensory-attentional readiness. Overall, all the considered sports disciplines may improve cognitive processing, but each one is associated with different benefits on cognitive performance by possibly stimulating separate brain processing. This kind of information could be crucial to select the more appropriate sport depending on individual demands.

The Impact of Self-Efficacy Analysis-Based Psychological Theory and Literary Ethics on Chinese American Entrepreneurship Education

In this study, entrepreneurship education was explored from the perspective of the combination of psychology and literary ethics, with the purpose of studying the entrepreneurial behavior of Chinese American college students and promoting the development of entrepreneurship education. Based on the analysis of self-efficacy, the correlations among entrepreneurial intention, entrepreneurship education, and entrepreneurial efficacy of the research samples were analyzed. First, through the questionnaire design, the research samples and the measurement scales of each research variable were determined, and the survey results and the reliability of the scale were analyzed and tested. Second, based on the variance analysis and regression analysis methods, a descriptive statistical analysis was performed on the correlations among entrepreneurship education, entrepreneurial intentions, and entrepreneurial efficacy among Chinese American college students. Finally, the idea of literary ethics was integrated into entrepreneurship education, entrepreneurial intentions, and entrepreneurial self-efficacy, and the correlation structure model was constructed. The intermediary role of entrepreneurial efficacy in entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intention was tested. In addition, the individual gender and family entrepreneurial behaviors were considered. The results show that the valid response rate of the questionnaire, is satisfactory at, 96.49%; the reliability and validity of the scales of the research variables are satisfactory; the Cronbach’s Alpha reliability coefficient values are all above 0.80; and the fitting results of the confirmatory factors are satisfactory. The regression analysis results show significant correlations among entrepreneurship education, entrepreneurial intentions, and entrepreneurial efficacy among Chinese American college students. Entrepreneurial efficacy has a partially intermediary role in the two dimensions of entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intention. Individual gender and family entrepreneurial behaviors have moderating effects, on the entrepreneurial efficacy levels of college entrepreneurs. From the perspectives of psychology and literary ethics, the above results have positive effects on the development of entrepreneurship education.

Effect of Taekwondo Practice on Cognitive Function in Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neuro-developmental/behavioral disorders among adolescents. Sport and physical activity seem to play a major role in the development of cognition, memory, selective attention and motor reaction time, especially among adolescents with ADHD. In this context, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a one-and-a-half-year-long Taekwondo (TKD) intervention on cognitive function in adolescents with ADHD. Two cognitive instruments, namely the Stroop and the Ruff 2 and 7 tests, were administered to assess attentional inhibitory control and sustained and selective visual attention, respectively. Comparisons between the TKD and control groups at baseline did not reveal significant differences. For post-test scores, there were statistically significant differences on the Stroop color block test (large effect size or ES = 1.26 [95% confidence interval or CI 0.30⁻2.22]), the color-word interference test (large ES = 2.16 [95% CI 1.10⁻3.26]), the interference test (large ES = 1.63 [95% CI 0.62⁻2.64]) and error (large ES = -2.20 [95% CI -3.31 to -1.10]). Similar trends were reported for the Ruff 2 and 7 automated detection trials (large ES = 2.78 [95% CI 1.55⁻4.01]), controlled search trials (large ES = 2.56 [95% CI 1.38⁻3.75]) and total speed (large ES = -2.90 [95% CI -4.15 to -1.64]). In conclusion, TKD practice increased selective attention in adolescents with ADHD. Practitioners should implement martial art programs in their general plans to favorably influence attention and health in adolescents with ADHD.