Smash to Success: Assessing The Role of Badminton in Enhancing Cognitive Function and Well-Being of Grade 8 Students: Basis for Grassroots Training Program

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between cognitive function and psychological well-being among junior high school students engaged in badminton participation. Specifically, it examined cognitive dimensions such as memory, concentration, and problem-solving, alongside psychological well-being dimensions including emotional, social, and psychological well-being. The study also explored variations in these variables according to sex and years of badminton experience. A total of 242 student-respondents participated in the study, with data collected through validated questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson product–moment correlation. The findings revealed that students generally demonstrated moderate to high levels of cognitive function, with memory, concentration, and problem-solving skills rated from Agree to Strongly Agree. Similarly, psychological well-being was perceived to be high across emotional, social, and psychological domains. Significant differences in memory were observed when respondents were grouped according to sex and years of badminton experience, whereas concentration and problem-solving showed no significant differences across these variables. In contrast, emotional, social, and psychological well-being exhibited significant differences based on both sex and experience levels. Furthermore, all dimensions of cognitive function were found to have significant positive relationships with the three dimensions of psychological well-being, indicating a strong association between cognitive skills and overall student well-being in the context of badminton participation. Based on these findings, a grassroots badminton training program was proposed to enhance both cognitive function and psychological well-being through the integration of cognitive drills, well-being interventions, and progressive experience-based training levels. The results underscore the importance of structured sports programs in fostering holistic student development, promoting not only physical competence but also mental, emotional, and social growth.