A new peer-reviewed study has found that a six-week regimen of Muay Thai, Thailand’s national martial art, delivers significant improvements in participants’ quality of life, love of life, and self-control—offering fresh scientific evidence for the physical and psychological benefits long celebrated in Thai culture. The research, published on May 23, 2025 in Frontiers in Psychology, is among the first to rigorously examine how structured Muay Thai training impacts these key markers of mental health and happiness among university students (frontiersin.org).
The Thai public has long upheld Muay Thai not only as a sport but as an art form embodying discipline, cultural pride, and personal growth. Recent years have also seen a push—at both policy and local levels—to use sports as a vehicle for advancing physical and mental wellness. This latest research responds to an emerging national and global conversation about the role of traditional martial arts in modern health promotion, especially at a time when university students face heightened stress and mental health challenges.
The randomized controlled study followed 50 healthy, sedentary male university students, split into a Muay Thai training group and a control group. Both groups were similar in age, physical characteristics, and exercise history at baseline. Over six weeks, participants in the Muay Thai group trained three times a week for 90 minutes per session under the guidance of a certified coach, progressing from basic movements to combination techniques. All training sessions incorporated full protective equipment and maintained moderate-to-high intensity, as measured by established “perceived exertion” standards.
Researchers used validated Turkish-language versions of internationally recognized psychological scales: the Short Form-12 (SF-12) to measure quality of life, the Love of Life Scale to assess positive attitudes towards life, and the Multidimensional Self-Control Scale. The results were compelling. After the six-week program, the Muay Thai group displayed:
- A 13.23% improvement in physical quality of life and a remarkable 21.93% boost in mental quality of life scores.
- Self-control scores increased by 23.78% for initiation (the ability to take action) and by 24.69% for inhibition (the ability to resist impulses).
- All components of the “love of life” scale improved markedly, with positive attitudes up 18.63%, happy outcomes up 20.11%, and perceived meaningfulness of life up 15.62%.
By contrast, the control group—those who did not engage in Muay Thai training—showed only minimal or no improvement, and in some cases, their mental health scores even declined over the same period.
Participants in the Muay Thai group reported feeling more energetic, confident, and capable of managing stress. These findings, according to lead researchers, suggest that regular Muay Thai training can be a powerful intervention for supporting both personal development and psychological resilience in university-aged youth.
The results matter deeply for Thailand, where education stakeholders and mental health advocates are seeking innovative ways to address rising rates of stress, anxiety, and depression on campuses. University students are at higher risk for mental health struggles due to academic pressures, future uncertainty, and the transition to independent living. Several Thai universities and public health authorities have piloted sport-based mental health initiatives, but few have systematically studied the specific impact of Muay Thai as a culturally rooted exercise.
Psychologists and sport scientists have long recognized the multifaceted benefits of physical activity in fighting mood disorders, supporting social belonging, and reducing risky behaviors. However, the unique combination of physical exertion, learned discipline, and cultural meaning embedded in Muay Thai gives it a distinctive advantage when it comes to fostering qualities such as self-confidence and self-control. Culturally, Muay Thai promotes humility, perseverance, and respect—values integral to Thai society and crucial for the holistic development of young people (source).
The underlying mechanisms are both physical and psychological. Muay Thai’s interval-based training—combining bursts of rapid strikes, defense, and clinching—stimulates cardiovascular fitness, muscle coordination, and endorphin release, which are known to contribute to feelings of happiness and relaxation. The discipline required to master techniques and maintain dedication helps reinforce positive routines and builds a practitioner’s sense of agency and purpose. As one Muay Thai instructor at a leading Bangkok university explained, “It’s not just about fighting—it’s about learning to control your body and mind, to respect yourself and others, and to embrace challenge with a positive spirit.”
Thai policymakers and university leaders can draw practical insights from these scientific results. Embedding structured Muay Thai classes into sports curricula—or offering them as extracurricular activities—may be a highly effective, culturally resonant way to bolster students’ well-being. Moreover, integration with mental health support services and peer support groups could further amplify these gains, especially if Muay Thai is taught with explicit attention to its ethical and emotional dimensions.
Historical context reveals that Muay Thai has always been more than a means of combat: it has functioned as a rite of passage and a tool for shaping character. In Thai folklore and royal chronicles, legendary fighters are lauded not just for their prowess in the ring, but for their humility, self-sacrifice, and commitment to community. The modern sports-scientific validation of Muay Thai’s positive psychological effects can be seen as a continuation of this living tradition, adapted for the needs and aspirations of the 21st-century youth ([Vail, 2014; Soontayatron, 2025]).
While the findings are promising, the study’s authors caution against overgeneralization. The sample consisted solely of male students from a single department at one university, and the timeframe was limited to six weeks. The research did not include women, did not assess long-term outcomes, and may not reflect broader populations or sustained effects beyond the immediate training period. More expansive research—including longer follow-up, gender diversity, and collaboration across universities and regions—will be vital to fully understand how Muay Thai can form part of national strategies for youth development and health ([Saraiva et al., 2024a]; [de Oliveira et al., 2023]).
For Thai readers, these results offer both encouragement and a concrete call to action. Parents, educators, and policy officials should recognize Muay Thai not simply as a competitive sport but as a potent, homegrown tool for enhancing youth wellness. University administrators can consider piloting Muay Thai training or other traditional martial arts within their student services for stress reduction, character building, and prevention of risky behavior. Young people themselves are encouraged to explore Muay Thai or similar activities—not just for physical fitness, but for the chance to cultivate self-confidence, agency, and a deeper sense of meaning in daily life.
To ensure the widest benefit, health authorities and sports associations should:
- Support expanded access to quality Muay Thai programs, especially for students and at-risk youth;
- Invest in research tracking the long-term mental health and well-being effects of martial arts;
- Foster collaboration between Muay Thai instructors, psychologists, and counselors to maximize holistic outcomes;
- Integrate Muay Thai into health-promotion efforts, positioning it as both a cultural touchstone and a modern wellness resource.
As the growing body of evidence continues to explore the psychological power of exercise, this research on Muay Thai underscores the wisdom embedded in Thai traditions—and the promise they hold for future generations seeking resilience, happiness, and self-mastery in turbulent times.
For more details, see the original research article in Frontiers in Psychology: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1584160