Competitive lion dance, a traditional sport that integrates artistic performance, cultural heritage, and high-intensity physical training, has not yet been systematically studied for its multidimensional health benefits. Method: This study investigates the comprehensive impact of competitive lion dance on the bio-psycho-social health of elite athletes through a 12-month longitudinal cohort tracking. Thirty-two national-level competitive lion dance athletes (18 males and 14 females, aged 22.5 ± 3.1 years) were recruited and assessed at three time points: baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Biological health indicators included cardiorespiratory fitness (maximal oxygen uptake, VO₂max), muscle strength (isokinetic strength test), and body composition analysis. Mental health was evaluated using the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Psychological Resilience Inventory (PTI). Social health was quantified through the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) and Team Cohesion Questionnaire (TCQ). (1) In the biological health dimension, VO₂max increased by 12.3% (p < 0.01), lower limb explosive power improved by 18.7% (p < 0.001), and body fat percentage decreased by 4.2% (p < 0.05). (2) In the mental health dimension, anxiety and depression scores decreased by 26.5% and 21.8%, respectively (p < 0.01), while psychological resilience improved by 34.2% (p < 0.001). (3) In the social health dimension, the total social support score increased by 29.1%, and team cohesion improved by 40.6% (p < 0.001). Correlation analysis revealed that physiological improvements were significantly positively correlated with psychological resilience (r = 0.62) and team cohesion (r = 0.57). This study confirmed that the competitive lion dance achieved three-dimensional health gain through high-intensity interval training (body fat 4.3%, p <0.001), cultural ritual integration (CD-RISC 29%), and team coupling effect (network density 78.1%). Compared with the single physiological improvement of traditional sports (such as cardiopulmonary function study in martial arts), the social capital reconstruction (central Gini coefficient 0.18) and anxiety relief (β = -0.43) highlight the characteristics of intangible cultural heritage sports. Limitations involve sample size and control of confounding variables, including further dose-effect studies combined with wearable devices. At the practical level, the "intangible cultural heritage + health" model: the ritualized collaboration mechanism can be developed as a group psychological intervention tool for teenagers, metabolic gain (resting metabolic rate 8.7%) to adapt to the chronic disease exercise prescription system, and provide culture-driven solutions for the integration of health.
Yong Zhu (Thu,) studied this question.