scholarly journals The Effect of Martial Arts Training on Cognitive and Psychological Functions in At-Risk Youths

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Harwood-Gross ◽  
Bar Lambez ◽  
Ruth Feldman ◽  
Orna Zagoory-Sharon ◽  
Yuri Rassovsky
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Martial Arts ◽  
Psychological Functioning ◽  
Group Intervention ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Psychological Aggression ◽  
Speed Of Processing ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Psychological Functions ◽  
Martial Arts Training

The current study assessed whether an extended program of martial arts training was a viable intervention for at-risk youths in improving cognitive and psychological functions. Adolescent boys attending specialized education facilities for at-risk youths took part in regular sport lessons or martial arts practice twice a week for 6 months. Hormonal reactivity was assessed during initial training, and measures of psychological (aggression, self-esteem) and cognitive (inhibition, flexibility, speed of processing, and attention) functions were assessed before and immediately following the intervention. Participants in the martial arts training demonstrated significant improvement in the domains of inhibition and shifting and speed of processing. Additionally, initial hormonal reactivity (oxytocin and cortisol) to the intervention predicted significant post-intervention change on several measures of cognitive and psychological functioning. Specifically, oxytocin reactivity predicted improvement in processing speed, as well as reduction of aggression, whereas cortisol reactivity predicted increases in self-esteem. This pioneering, ecologically valid study demonstrates the initial efficacy of this enjoyable, readily available, group intervention for at-risk boys and suggests potential mechanisms that may mediate the process of change.

Defending the Self: Martial Arts and Women’s Self-Esteem

1997 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon R. Guthrie
Keyword(s):  
Martial Arts ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
The Self ◽  
Adult Women ◽  
Growing Up ◽  
Dysfunctional Families ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Self Perception ◽  
Valuable Adjunct ◽  
Martial Arts Training

Self-esteem changes among adult women who had been practicing seido karate for at least six months and had acquired the perceived ability to physically self-defend were examined in this study. The research site was a feminist martial arts dojo for women in a midwestern state. Thirty women, aged 26-62, participated in strucured interviews. All of the women perceived improvements in self-esteem after participating in martial arts training for at least six months. These self-esteem changes were perceived to be related to improvement in physical self-perception. Recovery from psychosexual abuse, eating disorders, substance abuse, and growing up in dysfunctional families was another commonly perceived consequence of martial arts training, and most of the participants who had experienced such problems believed their martial arts practice was a valuable adjunct to traditional therapeutic approaches. Significantly, however, they viewed certain aspects of the feminist environment, particularly its gynocentricity, as essential to the self change process. A relationship between the martial arts experience, particularly gaining the ability to defend oneself physically, and other attitudes and behaviors related to self-perception is suggested.

Incarcerated Adolescents' Distress and Suicidality in Relation to Parental Bonding Styles

Crisis ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 164-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth L McGarvey ◽  
Ludmila A Kryzhanovskaya ◽  
Cheryl Koopman ◽  
Dennis Waite ◽  
Randolph J Canterbury
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Suicidal Behavior ◽  
Parental Bonding ◽  
Psychosocial Problems ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
Parental Bonding Instrument ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
Incarcerated Adolescents

This study examines the relationships between the bonding style of an incarcerated adolescent with parents and his/her current feelings of self-esteem, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts and attempts. It also investigates differences between bonding to mother and bonding to father. Some 296 incarcerated adolescents were interviewed using the Parental Bonding Instrument. Significant relationships were found between youths' self-esteem, hopelessness, and suicidal behavior and their bonding style. Youths whose parent(s) had a parental bonding style of affectionless control reported the greatest distress, and youths whose parent(s) had an optimal bonding style reported the least distress. Differences were found between bonding styles with the mother and with the father. Attachment theory may be useful in targeting incarcerated youths who have affectionless control bonding with parent(s) for special interventions since these youths are most at risk for psychosocial problems.

scholarly journals Daily Bathing with Chlorhexidine-Based Soap and the Prevention of Staphylococcus aureus Transmission and Infection

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa A. Viray ◽  
James C. Morley ◽  
Craig M. Coopersmith ◽  
Marin H. Kollef ◽  
Victoria J. Fraser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Control Unit ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Icu Patients ◽  
Chlorhexidine Bathing ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Surgical Icu ◽  
Time Series Methodology

Objective.Determine whether daily bathing with chlorhexidine-based soap decreased methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) transmission and intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired S. aureus infection among ICU patients.Design.Prospective pre-post-intervention study with control unit.Setting.A 1,250-bed tertiary care teaching hospital.Patients.Medical and surgical ICU patients.Methods.Active surveillance for MRSA colonization was performed in both ICUs. In June 2005, a chlorhexidine bathing protocol was implemented in the surgical ICU. Changes in S. aureus transmission and infection rate before and after implementation were analyzed using time-series methodology.Results.The intervention unit had a 20.68% decrease in MRSA acquisition after institution of the bathing protocol (12.64 cases per 1,000 patient-days at risk before the intervention vs 10.03 cases per 1,000 patient-days at risk after the intervention; β, −2.62 [95% confidence interval (CI), −5.19 to −0.04]; P = .046). There was no significant change in MRSA acquisition in the control ICU during the study period (10.97 cases per 1,000 patient-days at risk before June 2005 vs 11.33 cases per 1,000 patient-days at risk after June 2005; β, −11.10 [95% CI, −37.40 to 15.19]; P = .40). There was a 20.77% decrease in all S. aureus (including MRSA) acquisition in the intervention ICU from 2002 through 2007 (19.73 cases per 1,000 patient-days at risk before the intervention to 15.63 cases per 1,000 patient-days at risk after the intervention [95% CI, −7.25 to −0.95]; P = .012)]. The incidence of ICU-acquired MRSA infections decreased by 41.37% in the intervention ICU (1.96 infections per 1,000 patient-days at risk before the intervention vs 1.15 infections per 1,000 patient-days at risk after the intervention; P = .001).Conclusions.Institution of daily chlorhexidine bathing in an ICU resulted in a decrease in the transmission of S. aureus, including MRSA. These data support the use of routine daily chlorhexidine baths to decrease rates of S. aureus transmission and infection.

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