Is Wushu participation associated with internalizing problem behaviors among Chinese adolescents? A cross-sectional...

This study examined the cross-sectional associations between Wushu participation and internalizing problem behaviors, including depression, anxiety, and stress, among Chinese primary and secondary school students. It also explored whether organizational forms of participation and Wushu event categories were associated with these mental health indicators.

A cross-sectional research design was adopted, with a valid sample of 6,642 participants. Questionnaires were used to assess Wushu participation and levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Demographic information, including gender, grade, age, residence, and parental educational attainment, was also collected. Harman's single-factor test was conducted to assess common method bias, followed by descriptive statistics and correlation analyses. Multiple linear regression models were used to estimate the adjusted cross-sectional associations of Wushu participation, organizational form, and event category with depression, anxiety, and stress after controlling for selected demographic covariates. Collinearity and residual diagnostics were also performed.

(1) The common method bias test showed that the first common factor explained 26.19% of the total variance, lower than the critical standard of 40%. (2) Wushu participation was significantly negatively correlated with depression (r = -0.261), anxiety (r = -0.251) and stress (r = -0.207) (all p < 0.01); depression, anxiety and stress were significantly positively correlated with one another (r = 0.423-0.473, all p < 0.01). (3) In the adjusted models, Wushu participation was significantly and negatively associated with depression β = -0.191, anxiety β = -0.166, and stress β = -0.156 all p<0.001. Organizational form and event category were also associated with the three mental health indicators p < 0.05 or p < 0.001.

Among Chinese primary and secondary school students, higher levels of Wushu participation were cross-sectionally associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Organizational form and Wushu event category were also associated with these mental health indicators, suggesting that participation context may be relevant when considering the potential public health value of Wushu practice.