1
Faculty of Sports Sciences, Gümüşhane University, Gümüşhane, 29100, Türkiye
Abstract
Sports injuries can negatively affect athletes’ psychological resilience and quality of life, highlighting the need for effective exercise approaches that support post-injury recovery. This study aimed to examine the effects of a 6-week kickboxing training program on quality of life and mental toughness in female athletes with a history of sports injury. Twenty female athletes (age: 22.4 ± 3.1 years) who had a history of sports injuries and had completed their rehabilitation process voluntarily participated in the study. Participants followed a kickboxing training program based on the principle of progressive overload, performed three days per week for approximately 60 minutes per session. The program included dynamic warm-up exercises, basic techniques (jab, cross, low kick), coordination and balance drills, low-to-moderate intensity conditioning exercises, and controlled shadow boxing and bag training. Data were collected using the SF-36 Quality of Life Scale and the Mental Toughness Scale, with measurements taken before and after the training intervention. The results indicated significant improvements in physical health (F = 9.573, p = 0.004, ηp² = 0.220) and mental health (F = 28.397, p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.455). Significant increases were also observed in the confidence, control, and constancy subdimensions of mental toughness. These findings suggest that structured kickboxing training may support both physical and psychological recovery in female athletes with a history of sports injury.
Keywords
Kickboxing,mental toughness,quality of life,female athletes
How to Cite
Sahin, O. (2026). The effects of kickboxing training on quality of life and mental toughness in female athletes with a history of injury. Journal of ROL Sport Sciences, 7, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.70736/jrolss.2304
📄Altıntaş, A., & Koruç, P. B. (2016). Sporda zihinsel dayanıklılık envanterinin psikometrik özelliklerinin incelenmesi (SZDE). Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 27(4), 163–171. [Crossref]
📄Arvinen-Barrow, M., & Walker, N. (2013). The psychology of sport injury and rehabilitation. Routledge. [Crossref]
📄Ciaccioni, S., Castro, O., Bahrami, F., Tomporowski, P., Capranica, L., Biddle, S., … et al. (2023). Martial arts, combat sports, and mental health in adults: A systematic review. Psychology of Sport and Exercise. [Crossref]
📄Clough, P., Earle, K., & Sewell, D. (2002). Mental toughness: The concept and its measurement. In I. Cockerill (Ed.), Solutions in sport psychology (pp. 32–45). Thomson.
📄Feng, Y., Zhu, C., Liu, H., Bao, T., Wang, C., Wang, Z., … et al. (2025). Effect of telemedicine-supported structured exercise program in patients with chronic low back pain: A randomized controlled trial. PLOS One, 20. [Crossref]
📄Gucciardi, D. F., Hanton, S., Gordon, S., Mallett, C. J., & Temby, P. (2015). The concept of mental toughness: Tests of dimensionality, nomological network, and traitness. Journal of Personality, 83(1), 26–44. [Crossref]
📄Hernández-Martinez, J., Cid-Calfucura, I., Vázquez-Carrasco, E., Fritz-Silva, N., Herrera-Valenzuela, T., Branco, B., … et al. (2025). Effects of boxing interventions on physical fitness and health-related quality of life in older people with Parkinson’s disease: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Frontiers in Public Health, 13. [Crossref]
📄Jackson, K., Edginton-Bigelow, K., Cooper, C., & Merriman, H. (2012). A group kickboxing program for balance, mobility, and quality of life in individuals with multiple sclerosis: A pilot study. Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy, 36, 131–137. [Crossref]
📄Keramat, S., Ahammed, B., Mohammed, A., Seidu, A., Farjana, F., Hashmi, R., … et al. (2022). Disability, physical activity, and health-related quality of life in Australian adults: An investigation using 19 waves of a longitudinal cohort. PLoS ONE, 17. [Crossref]
📄Köroğlu, M., Yılmaz, C., Tan, Ç., Çelikel, B. E., Budak, C., Kavuran, K., … et al. (2025). Judo exercises increase emotional expression, self-control, and psychological resilience. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1632095. [Crossref]
📄Özkan, R., Yılmaz, C., Uzun, R. N., Bayrakdaroğlu, S., Akar, Ö. O., Öz, F., ... et al. (2026). Effects of wrestling training on psychological well-being, anxiety, and resilience in adolescent boys. BMC Psychology. [Crossref]
📄Öztürk, A., & Öz, K. (2022). The analysis of female kickboxers’ achievements and psychological resilience levels. Journal of Educational Issues. [Crossref]
📄Pekel, A., Turan, M., Eraslan, M., Iqbal, M., Pepe, O., Yoka, K., … et al. (2025). Building resilience through self-defense: The role of martial arts in enhancing psychological strength among women. Frontiers in Psychology, 16. [Crossref]
📄Preede, L., Saebu, M., Perrin, P., Nyquist, A., Dalen, H., Bautz-Holter, E., … et al. (2015). One-year trajectories of mental and physical functioning during and after rehabilitation among individuals with disabilities. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 13. [Crossref]
📄Richardson, J. T. (2011). Eta squared and partial eta squared as measures of effect size in educational research. Educational Research Review, 6(2), 135-147. [Crossref]
📄Savoie, F., Benoit, S., Riesco, E., & Tanguay, A. (2024). Long-term impact of a community-based adapted boxing program on physical functioning and quality of life of individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Neurorehabilitation, 54, 473 - 484. [Crossref]
📄Sheard, M., Golby, J., & Van Wersch, A. (2009). Progress toward construct validation of the Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ). European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 25(3), 186–193. [Crossref]
📄Slimani, M., Chaabene, H., Miarka, B., Franchini, E., Chamari, K., & Cheour, F. (2017). Kickboxing review: Anthropometric, physiological and activity profiles and injury epidemiology. Biology of Sport, 34(2), 185–196. [Crossref]
📄Soylu, C., & Kütük, B. (2021). SF-12 yaşam kalitesi ölçeği’nin Türkçe formunun güvenirlik ve geçerlik çalışması. Türk Psikiyatri Dergisi. [Crossref]
📄Sunde, S., Hesseberg, K., Skelton, D., Ranhoff, A., Pripp, A., Aarønæs, M. …. Et al. (2020). Effects of a multicomponent high intensity exercise program on physical function and health-related quality of life in older adults with or at risk of mobility disability after discharge from hospital: A randomised controlled trial. BMC Geriatrics, 20. [Crossref]
📄Valdés-Badilla, P., Herrera-Valenzuela, T., Guzmán-Muñoz, E., Delgado-Floody, P., Núñez-Espinosa, C., Monsalves-Álvarez, M., … et al. (2022). Effects of Olympic Combat Sports on Health-Related Quality of Life in Middle-Aged and Older People: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. [Crossref]
📄Ware, J. E., Kosinski, M., & Keller, S. D. (1995). SF-12: How to score the SF-12 physical and mental health summary scales. Boston: The Health Institute, New England Medical Center.
📄World Health Organization. (1995). WHOQOL: Measuring quality of life. World Health Organization.
📄Yang, J., Peek-Asa, C., Lowe, J. B., Heiden, E., & Foster, D. T. (2014). Social support patterns of collegiate athletes before and after injury. Journal of Athletic Training, 49(3), 372–379. [Crossref]
📄Yilmaz, A. K., Yilmaz, C., Karaduman, E., Mayda, M. H., Erail, S., Bostanci, Ö., … et al. (2021). Correlation of bilateral and ipsilateral strength ratios with balance in female taekwondo athletes. Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas, 16(2), 67–79. [Crossref]
📄Yoldaş, B., Akdemir, E., Anıl, B., Korkmaz, E., Kumru, D., Yılmaz, Ç., ... et al. (2024). Pain, quality of life, proprioception and physical function in patient with knee osteoarthritis: Comparison of different grades. Medicine Science, 13(2). [Crossref]
