Table 1.  Overview of selected studies on martial arts and personality traits.
Year
Author
Sample size
Target group*
Methodology
Martial art
Measured effect
Positive or negative effect among MA†
1978
Duthie et al.
152
General
Cross-sectional
level of experience)
Karate, other martial arts (not specified)
Self-confidence, dominance, autonomy, achievement, …
Positive among advanced MA
1980
Konzak & Klavora
84
General
Cross-sectional
(level of experience)
Karate
General development (personality factors and physical well-being)
Positive among advanced MA
1986
Richman & Rehberg
60
General
Cross-sectional
(level of experience + performance)
Karate
Self-esteem
Positive among advanced and successful MA‡
1986
Trulson
34
Youth
Longitudinal (type of guidance)
Taekwondo
Anxiety, self-esteem and social adroitness
Positive among traditional MA
1989
McGowan & Miller
107
General
Cross-sectional
(level of performance)
Karate
Angry
Positive among less successful MA
1990
Layton
93
General
Cross-sectional
(level of experience)
Karate
Trait and state anxiety
Positive among advanced MA
1993
Kurian et al.
30
General
Cross-sectional
(level of experience)
Taekwondo
Anxiety and independence
Positive among advanced MA
1994
Kurian et al.
72
Youth
Cross-sectional (level of experience)
Taekwondo
Self-reliance and enthusiastic optimism
Positive among advanced MA
2003
Najafi
118
General
Cross-sectional
(type of guidance)
Karate
Humility and overall levels of hope
Positive among traditional MA
2004
Lakes & Hoyt
193
Youth
Longitudinal(school-linked program)
Taekwondo, control
Cognitive and affective self-regulation, prosocial behavior, classroom conduct, performance on a mental math test
Positive over time among MA
2007
Kuan & Roy
40
General
Cross-sectional (level of performance)
Wushu
Self-confidence and energy control
Positive among successful MA
2007
Wargo et al.
40
General
Cross-sectional (level of experience)
Taekwondo, karate
Self-esteem
Neither positive nor negative
2009
Steyn & Roux
72
Youth
Cross-sectional (comparison different groups)
Taekwondo,  hockey,non-sport group
Personal growth and self-acceptance
Positive among MA
* General (general population) = adults, adolescents and/or children are pooled together into one group. Youth = youngster under the age of 18
MA = martial artists. ‡ Martial artists were considered as successful when they won, earned a trophy or were in the top 4 of a competition.