In Pursuit of Spiritual Well-being Exploring the Role of Mental Toughness and Cognitive Flexibility among Kalaripayattu Practitioners: A Study from Kerala

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18478486

Zameel M M, Chetna Jaiswal, Akash Kumar, and Nishi Srivastava (Department of Psychology, Central University of South Bihar, Gaya, Bihar)

Kalaripayattu, a martial art originating from Kerala, India, is a cultural icon of Kerala and is renowned for its holistic approach to physical, mental, and spiritual development. With its unique blend of physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation, Kalaripayattu is believed to cultivate mental resilience, emotional balance, and spiritual awareness. The present research explored the interconnections among mental toughness, cognitive flexibility, and spiritual well-being among Kalaripayattu practitioners and compared against untrained individuals. This study employs a correlational and comparative design, where data were acquired from a sample of 60 subjects between the ages of 20 to 30 years old using validated psychometric instruments. The dataset was examined through descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, correlation, and regression analysis. The Findings revealed strong positive associations between mental toughness and spiritual well-being among Kalaripayattu practitioners compared to non-practitioners. Study findings emphasize the mental and emotional advantages of classical combats, implying that it nurtures psychological strength, flexibility, and emotional stability among Kalaripayattu practitioners.