Capoeira: The Relationship of an Afro-Brazilian Movement Art to State Anxiety, State Self-Efficacy, and Prosocial Behavior Tendencies

Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian movement art that incorporates elements of dance, martial arts, instrument playing, singing, acrobatics, and physical improvisation between partners to comprise a multifaceted and conversational... [ view full abstract ]

Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian movement art that incorporates elements of dance, martial arts, instrument playing, singing, acrobatics, and physical improvisation between partners to comprise a multifaceted and conversational “game.” The sport has moved out of Brazil and expanded globally over the last several decades. Despite its rising demand and growing international popularity, however, the psychological benefits of capoeira to participants had not previously been investigated within a scientific framework. Inspired by recent neuroscientific research as to the benefits of exercise, meditation, yoga, and mindfulness practices, the present study sought to investigate whether engagement in a capoeira session was associated with altered state anxiety, self-efficacy feelings, and prosocial behavior tendencies as compared to engagement in cooperative movement, combative movement, and non-movement control activities (acro-yoga, savate, and graduate-level mathematics class, respectively). One hundred nineteen capoeiristas in the greater Rio de Janeiro, Brazil area completed surveys before and after a session of capoeira. Surveys were subsequently analyzed for pre- and post-session variations and were compared to the various control groups. Background research and literature review were conducted February to May, 2015; data collection took place in Rio during July and August of 2015; and data analysis occurred from September to December of 2015.