Student attitudes and awareness on Tai Chi and Qigong in universities

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate university students’ attitudes and awareness towards Tai Chi and Qigong, and to explore their interrelationship as well as the influence of demographic variables. Design: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to gather quantitative data on students’ perceptions of Tai Chi and Qigong. Setting: The study was implemented across five public universities located in eastern, central and western regions of China, representing diverse geographic and cultural contexts. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was adopted, using a bilingual questionnaire distributed online via Wenjuanxing. A total of 378 valid responses were analysed. The instrument assessed demographics, attitudes (via 10-point Likert-type scale) and awareness (via 10-item knowledge test) of Tai Chi and Qigong. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, t tests, Pearson correlations and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Results: Students demonstrated generally positive attitudes, scoring 32.8 ± 8.80 for Tai Chi and 30.9 ± 9.81 for Qigong, with a statistically significant difference ( p = .005). Awareness scores were moderate to low: 45.4 ± 16.1 for Tai Chi and 53.3 ± 18.9 for Qigong, also significantly different ( p < .001). A positive correlation was found between attitudes and awareness for both Tai Chi ( r = .43, p < .001) and Qigong ( r = .39, p < .001). Demographic variables, particularly prior learning experience and source of exposure, significantly influenced both constructs. Conclusion: Despite positive attitudes, students’ awareness of Tai Chi and Qigong remains limited. Educational initiatives should prioritise evidence-based integration and awareness-building strategies within university physical education programmes.