Effects of wrestling training on psychological well-being, anxiety, and resilience in adolescent boys

Background Wrestling is a physically and mentally demanding combat sport that requires discipline, focus, and emotional control. Although its physiological effects are well documented, its psychological benefits in adolescents remain underexplored. This study aimed to examine whether a short-term, non-competitive wrestling program could enhance psychological well-being, reduce sport anxiety, and strengthen resilience in adolescent boys. Methods Thirty sedentary male adolescents (aged 12-15 years) were randomly assigned to a wrestling training group (n = 15) or a control group (n = 15). The intervention consisted of six weeks of supervised wrestling sessions performed three times per week. Psychological well-being (WHO-5), sport anxiety (SAS-2), and resilience (BPRS) were assessed before and after the intervention using the validated Turkish versions of the scales. Two-way repeated-measures ANOVA was used to analyze group & times; time interactions. Results Participants in the wrestling group demonstrated significant improvements in well-being (p < 0.001) and resilience (p < 0.001), alongside marked reductions in total sport anxiety and its subdimensions (p < 0.001), compared with the control group. All effects were large (eta p & sup2; = 0.52-0.94). Conclusion A structured six-week wrestling program produced meaningful psychological benefits in adolescent boys. Regular participation in non-competitive wrestling may serve as an effective approach to promote well-being, emotional stability, and adaptive coping skills during early adolescence, supporting the preventive and developmental role of combat sports in youth mental health.