Open Access

ARTICLE

The Importance of Optimism and School Belonging for Children’s Well-Being and Academic Achievement

Geonho Na¹, Ryewon Ma^2,*, Heetae Cho^1,*

1 Department of Sport Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
2 Department of Nursing, Kyungnam University, Changwon, 51767, Republic of Korea

* Corresponding Authors: Ryewon Ma. Email: ; Heetae Cho. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: From Tradition to High-Intensity: Examining the Psychological and Emotional Impacts of Exercise Types)

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion 2025, 27(12), 1867-1882. https://doi.org/10.32604/ijmhp.2025.073087

Received 10 September 2025; Accepted 25 November 2025; Issue published 31 December 2025

Abstract

Background: Academic achievement is an important indicator of student development, and its pursuit should be considered alongside students’ mental health and overall quality of life. Traditional martial arts, as an educational activity that emphasizes self-discipline, communal values, and positive emotional experiences, may support key psychological factors related to learning, such as optimism, school belonging, and well-being. However, how these factors are connected to academic achievement has not been fully examined. Therefore, this study investigated the associations between these psychological resources and academic achievement among students participating in traditional martial arts training. Methods: Data were collected from 331 elementary school students in South Korea who were enrolled in school-based traditional martial arts (taekkyeon) classes. The survey was administered on-site between August and November 2024. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling with 5000 bootstrap resamples were performed to evaluate the measurement model and test the hypothesized relationships. Results: The measurement model showed acceptable fit, and the structural model supported most of the hypothesized relationships. Optimism showed significant positive associations with school belonging, well-being, and academic achievement; well-being was positively related to academic achievement. However, the direct relationship between school belonging and academic achievement was not statistically significant, suggesting that its influence may operate indirectly through well-being. Conclusion: The findings indicate that participation in traditional martial arts training is related to positive psychological processes and academic outcomes. This study underscores the broader contributions of traditional martial arts to students’ well-being and academic adjustment, highlighting their relevance for school-based programs.

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Keywords

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