”Osäkerheten har tärt påmig, och boxningen harvarit ett motgift” : Boxares upplevelser kring träningenspåverkan på självbild och välbefinnande

Sammanfattning: Boxing has been practiced for thousands of years, yet there is still limited research on how boxing affectsmental health. The primary focus has been physical aspects such as either injuries or health benefits.Previous studies do however indicate that boxing could be beneficial for mental health as well, but dueto the lack of existing evidence further research is necessary. To create a better understanding of thesubject the aim of this study was to identify boxers’ experiences of how boxing affected their mentalhealth, with a primary focus on well-being and self-image. Furthermore, the aim was also to find outwhether the boxers considered the impact from boxing any different compared to other physical activity.Data were collected through seven semi-structured interviews with boxers that had at least three years’experience. The results showed that boxing could provide with higher self-esteem, self-confidence, andwell-being, and it was also shown that coaches and training partners had a certain impact. Though someof the participants gave the expression of sometimes being nervous or anxious before sparring, therewere indications that the sparring elements contributed to a stronger connection among the boxers dueto the vulnerability they share by stepping into a boxing ring. The biggest perceived difference betweenboxing and other sports seemed to be that several of the participants experienced boxing as moremeaningful in a sense that boxing contributed to self-development and not just overall well-being.