Martial arts training and aggressive behavior in children and adolescents: a systematic review of longitudinal evidence and psychological processes.

Aggressive behavior in childhood and adolescence represents a persistent developmental and public health concern, with important implications for psychosocial adjustment and long-term wellbeing. Martial arts training, which typically integrates structured physical activity with rule-based interaction, discipline, and social learning, has increasingly been proposed as a potential intervention context for shaping behavioral and emotional development. However, longitudinal evidence regarding its relationship with youth aggression remains fragmented and heterogeneous. This systematic review synthesized longitudinal intervention studies examining the relationship between martial arts training and changes in aggressive behavior among children and adolescents. A comprehensive search of international and Chinese databases identified 11 eligible studies, including two randomized controlled trials and nine quasi-experimental intervention studies. Methodological quality was assessed using the RoB 2 tool for randomized trials and the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for quasi-experimental studies. Overall, the evidence does not indicate a consistent directional effect of martial arts interventions on aggressive behavior. Instead, findings varied substantially across martial arts disciplines, intervention structures, and research contexts. Across studies, psychological variables relevant to potential psychological processes were mainly represented in two domains: (1) self-regulation-related processes, including self-control and emotion-related indicators; and (2) socialization-related constructs, including self-concept, peer-related indicators, and broader psychosocial functioning. However, considerable variation existed in the conceptualization and measurement of these variables, limiting direct comparability across studies and preventing firm conclusions about causal mechanisms. Taken together, martial arts training should not be interpreted as having a uniform aggression-reducing effect among children and adolescents. Its potential value appears conditional on educational goals, pedagogical guidance, and training context. Future research should clarify when, for whom, and through what pathways martial arts training may influence aggression-related outcomes.