A Phenomenological Study of Mental Health Enhancement in Taekwondo Training: Application of Catharsis Theory.

Won-Chul Bing,Soo-Jung Kim

doi:10.3390/ijerph18084082

Abstract

In modern society, catharsis is often understood as the relieving of stress, and the psychological and medical effects of catharsis are well known even to ordinary people. There are many studies showing that physical activity is a good tool for managing and promoting mental health. However, there are not many studies on Taekwondo training and catharsis. Therefore, we conducted a study explaining catharsis as mental health promotion in Taekwondo training. This study explores mental health enhancement of Taekwondo training by using a phenomenological methodology. Phenomenology is a theory that seeks to understand an individual’s recognition of their own subjectivity rather than explaining objective factors about an individual. We collected data from interviews with 12 students who had been members of a university Taekwondo demonstration team. The phenomenological results were expressed as six themes: (1) vicarious purgation of repressed emotions, (2) emotional catharsis through pity and fear, (3) catharsis from ethics, (4) catharsis through mimesis, (5) catharsis from vicarious satisfaction through teammates, (6) catharsis from being the object of envy. Taekwondo, a traditional Korean martial art, is a physical activity that allows people to experience catharsis, which is a mental health effect of sports.

Highlights

In modern society, many people are exposed to mental, physical, and social problems and are suffering from tremendous stress due to the complexity, diversification, and specialization of the industrial structure and other unpredictable variables; each individual or group strives to reduce the sense of burden in life through various activities.In particular, sports activities, with various positive effects on physical and mental stability and satisfaction, play the role of a haven for people living in modern society [1,2].Many people associate sports with quantitative aspects that are externally manifested such as competition, championship, training, pain, and records
This study explored the catharsis experience of Taekwondo demonstration team members in depth with a phenomenological research approach
This study especially focused on the cathartic experience of Taekwondo demonstration team members as it was assumed that

Summary

Introduction

Sports activities, with various positive effects on physical and mental stability and satisfaction, play the role of a haven for people living in modern society [1,2]. Many people associate sports with quantitative aspects that are externally manifested such as competition, championship, training, pain, and records. When discussing sports, these quantitative aspects, and qualitative aspects including human emotions like joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure need to be considered [3]. Sports have both quantitative and qualitative aspects. Sports activities have both the quantitative meaning of bodily movement and the qualitative meaning of inner emotions created by it, regardless of the results of the activities. This study focuses on such inner emotions created by sports activities; that is, the qualitative values of sports

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Conclusion