The relationship between martial arts practice experience and psychological resilience among Chinese college freshmen: the mediating role of self-control and the moderating role of perceived social support

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to examine the moderating effect of perceived social support and the mediating role of self-control in the relationship between psychological resilience and martial arts experience among first-year college students. Methods: A cluster sampling method was used to select 1,291 university freshmen from Jiangsu Province. Data were collected through a basic information questionnaire, a Martial Arts Practice Experience Questionnaire, a Psychological Resilience Scale, a Self-Control Scale, and a Perceived Social Support Scale. Results: (1) College freshmen with martial arts practice experience demonstrate greater psychological resilience and self-control than those without martial arts practice experience. (2) Martial arts practice experience was significantly positively correlated with psychological resilience (r = 0.447, p < 0.01), self-control (r = 0.478, p < 0.01), and perceived social support (r = 0.201, p < 0.01). (3) Self-control partially mediated the relationship between martial arts practice experience and psychological resilience (β = 0.491, t = 19.747, p < 0.001), with the mediation effect accounting for 52.57% of the total effect. (4) Perceived social support played a moderating role in the second half of the mediation model (β = 0.133, t = 6.314, p < 0.001), such that the higher the level of perceived social support among college freshmen, the stronger the enhancing effect of self-control on psychological resilience. Conclusion: The findings revealed a moderated mediating relationship between martial arts practice experience and psychological resilience among college freshmen, with self-control serving as a mediating variable between the two factors. Additionally, perceived social support strengthened the positive effect of self-control on psychological resilience among college freshmen.