Mental Health Benefits of Amateur Participation in Combat Sports and the Risk of Specific Injuries: A Narrative Review

Abstract Objective:Combat sports are increasingly practiced at the amateur and recreational level and are often associated with both psychological benefits and an elevated risk of physical injury. This narrative review aims to synthesize current evidence on the mental health benefits of amateur participation in combat sports and to compare discipline-specific injury patterns, with particular attention to injuries relevant from a psychiatric perspective. Methods:A narrative review of the literature was conducted using published epidemiological studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized controlled trials addressing mental health outcomes, personality traits, and injury patterns among amateur and recreational practitioners of combat sports, including mixed martial arts (MMA), boxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ), judo, and Krav Maga. Results:Available evidence suggests that participation in combat sports is associated with improvements in psychological well-being, emotional regulation, resilience, and reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms. Personality profiles of martial artists are characterized by higher openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, and lower neuroticism. Injury risk varies substantially by discipline. Striking-based sports such as MMA, boxing, and Muay Thai show higher rates of head, facial, and neck injuries, whereas grappling-based disciplines such as BJJ and judo are associated primarily with joint and spinal injuries. Many injuries occur during training rather than competition. Conclusions:Amateur participation in combat sports appears to confer meaningful mental health benefits; however, these benefits coexist with discipline-specific injury risks. Careful training supervision, injury prevention strategies, and monitoring of head trauma exposure are essential to maximize psychological benefits while minimizing physical and potential neuropsychiatric harm. Keywords:combat sports; mental health; injury risk; mixed martial arts; boxing