Wellbeing and the gentle art: Emotion, engagement, meaning and accomplishment

Abstract

Research suggests that subjective wellbeing decreases the risk of chronic illness and mental health issues, and is therefore a pertinent personal and societal concern. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) has been associated with a range of desirable social and psychological outcomes. This quantitative study examined if significant differences would exist between practitioners and non-practitioners in levels of negative emotion and wellbeing (as measured by positive emotion, engagement, meaning and accomplishment). A further aim was to investigate if degrees of practice might influence these variables in practitioners. Participants (N = 653) completed an online questionnaire including a modified PERMA-profiler measure. Analysis showed that practitioners demonstrated significantly higher levels of wellbeing. Advanced practitioners demonstrated lower levels of negative emotion, while frequent practitioners exhibited higher levels of wellbeing. Future research is recommended to establish a causal relationship between BJJ and wellbeing as the sport may show promise as a mental health intervention.