Pathways to Well-Being in Inclusive Combat Sports and Martial Arts: Social and Psychological Perspectives

Inclusive combat sports and martial arts are increasingly recognized as psychologically significant contexts for people with disabilities, with benefits that complement those related to physical, motor, and sociological dimensions. Emerging evidence, including research on structured inclusive judo and karate programs, indicates measurable improvements in motivation, self-esteem, resilience, social impairment, and sense of belonging among participants, including autistic individuals and people with intellectual and relational disabilities. However, the psychological mechanisms through which these activities influence wellbeing, identity, and long-term engagement require further investigation across different types of disability, disciplines, and age groups. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach with a primary focus on psychological mechanisms is needed to consolidate the available evidence and clarify which mechanisms may be generalizable across different contexts.Existing research on sport and psychological wellbeing has tended to consider disability as a background demographic variable within broader studies on wellbeing, or as a topic addressed through perspectives related to a single discipline or a single sport, often focused on performance or physiological outcomes. This Research Topic, instead, places psychological mechanisms, such as motivation, self-determination, identity, and sense of belonging, at the center, as the primary perspective through which to understand participation in inclusive combat sports and martial arts, rather than considering them as secondary or incidental outcomes. The Topic is particularly interested in studies that specifically analyze psychological processes, in addition to physical or motor outcomes, including comparative studies across different types of disability, longitudinal analyses of participation patterns, and psychosocial factors predictive of adherence and dropout. The aim is to build a coherent and multidisciplinary evidence base, with a primary focus on the psychological dimension, that can help guide coaches, practitioners, and program designers in supporting the psychological experience of participants in inclusive combat sports.Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: • Motivation and self-determination in inclusive combat sports and martial arts• Psychological well-being, self-esteem, and quality of life among practitioners with disabilities • Identity and sense of belonging through martial arts participation • Psychosocial predictors of adherence, engagement, and dropout in adapted combat sports • Resilience and coping in combat-sport athletes with disabilities • Psychological effects of structured interventions (adapted judo, karate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) for autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability • The role of coaches, peers, and family in shaping psychological experience in adapted martial arts settings • Comparative psychological outcomes across disability types and age groups Topic editors: Emanuela Pierantozzi, Mariana Simões Pimentel Gomes, Maria Giulia Vinciguerra Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85130/pathways-to-well-being-in-inclusive-combat-sports-and-martial-arts-social-and-psychological-perspectives