Keywords
arm muscle power
eye-hand coordination
psychological distress
boxing athletes
How to Cite
Abstract
Jab-straight punch frequency is an important indicator of repeated punching performance in boxing and may be associated with physical, coordinative, and psychological characteristics. This study examined associations between arm muscle power, eye-hand coordination, and GHQ-12 psychological distress scores and jab-straight punch frequency among boxing athletes registered under PERTINA Gorontalo Province. A quantitative cross-sectional correlational design with multiple linear regression analysis was used. All 15 eligible athletes were included through total sampling; therefore, the findings apply only to this study sample. Arm muscle power, eye-hand coordination, and psychological distress scores were assessed using the Seated Medicine Ball Throw, Wall Toss Test, and General Health Questionnaire-12, respectively. Jab-straight punch frequency was defined as the number of valid punches completed within 30 seconds. The regression model was statistically significant, F(3, 11) = 108.799, p < .001, R² = .967, and adjusted R² = .959. Eye-hand coordination showed a positive regression coefficient (B = 1.616, p < .001), whereas arm muscle power (B = −3.155, p = .043) and psychological distress scores (B = −0.216, p < .001) showed negative coefficients. Higher psychological distress scores were associated with lower jab-straight punch frequency. These findings may provide preliminary information for evaluating the measured variables within this sample. Future studies with larger, more diverse samples and specific biomechanical tools are needed to further examine these associations.
References
Afifah Dwi Pramesti, H., & Faizah, R. (2022). Study of identifying factors for the development of a measuring instrument on the psychological readiness of athletic athletes. Jurnal SPORTIF : Jurnal Penelitian Pembelajaran, 8(3), 17–36. https://doi.org/10.29407/js_unpgri.v8i3.18807
Beauchamp, P., Kamis, D., & Stull, T. (2021). Achieving Mental Health and Peak Performance in Elite Athletes. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 44(3), 347–358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2021.04.002
Beránek, V., Votápek, P., & Stastny, P. (2023). Force and velocity of impact during upper limb strikes in combat sports: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Biomechanics, 22(8), 921–939. https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2020.1778075
Chen, M. A., Spanton, K., van Schaik, P., Spears, I., & Eaves, D. (2021). The Effects of Biofeedback on Performance and Technique of the Boxing Jab. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 128(4), 1607–1622. https://doi.org/10.1177/00315125211013251
Cui, W., Chen, Y., & Wang, D. (2024). The effect of optimal load training on punching ability in elite female boxers. Frontiers in Physiology, 15, 1455506. https://doi.org/10.3389/FPHYS.2024.1455506
Dunn, E. C., Humberstone, C. E., Franchini, E., Iredale, K. F., & Blazevich, A. J. (2022). Relationships Between Punch Impact Force and Upper- and Lower-Body Muscular Strength and Power in Highly Trained Amateur Boxers. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 36(4), 1019–1025. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003585
Ekelund, R., Holmström, S., Gustafsson, H., Ivarsson, A., Lundqvist, C., Stenling, A. (2025). Interventions for improving mental health in athletes : a scoping review. 9858. https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2023.2258383
Khasanshin, I., & Osipov, A. (2021). Using an artificial neural network to develop an optimal model of straight punch in boxing and training in punch techniques based on this model and real-time feedback. PLOS ONE, 16(11), e0259457. https://doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0259457
Liu, Y., Li, L., Yan, X., He, X., & Zhao, B. (2023). Biomechanics of the lead straight punch and related indexes between sanda fighters and boxers from the perspective of cross-border talent transfer. Frontiers in Physiology, 13, 1099682. https://doi.org/10.3389/FPHYS.2022.1099682
Liu, Y., Zhu, Z., Chen, X., Deng, C., Ma, X., & Zhao, B. (2022). Biomechanics of the lead straight punch of different-level boxers. Frontiers in Physiology, 13, 1015154. https://doi.org/10.3389/FPHYS.2022.1015154
Loiseau Taupin, M., Romeas, T., Juste, L., & Labbé, D. R. (2023). Exploring the effects of 3D-360°VR and 2D viewing modes on gaze behavior, head excursion, and workload during a boxing-specific anticipation task. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1235984. https://doi.org/10.3389/FPSYG.2023.1235984
Lopez-Laval, I., Sitko, S., Muniz-Pardos, B., Cirer-Sastre, R., & Calleja-Gonzalez, J. (2020). Relationship Between Bench Press Strength and Punch Performance in Male Professional Boxers. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 34(2), 308–312. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003362
Mahlangu, S., Mathunjwa, M. L., Millard, L., & Breukelman, G. J. (2024). Essential visual skills required for boxing: A review. African Vision and Eye Health, 83(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.4102/AVEH.V83I1.981
Menzel, T., & Potthast, W. (2021). Application of a Validated Innovative Smart Wearable for Performance Analysis by Experienced and Non-Experienced Athletes in Boxing. Sensors 2021, Vol. 21, Page 7882, 21(23), 7882. https://doi.org/10.3390/S21237882
Myall, K., Montero-Marin, J., Gorczynski, P., Kajee, N., Syed Sheriff, R., Bernard, R., Harriss, E., & Kuyken, W. (2023). Effect of mindfulness-based programs on elite athlete mental health: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 57(2), 99–108. https://doi.org/10.1136/BJSPORTS-2022-105596
Parry, G. N., Herrington, L. C., Horsley, I. G., & Gatt, I. (2021). The Test-Retest Reliability of Bilateral and Unilateral Force Plate-Derived Parameters of the Countermovement Push-Up in Elite Boxers. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 30(7), 1106–1110. https://doi.org/10.1123/JSR.2020-0340
Reardon, C. L. (2023). The Mental Health Crisis in Sports: The Perfect Storm of Contemporary Factors. Journal of Athletic Training, 58(9), 677–680. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0484.22
Trpkovici, M., Pálvölgyi, Á., Makai, A., Prémusz, V., & Ács, P. (2023). Athlete anxiety questionnaire: the development and validation of a new questionnaire for assessing the anxiety, concentration, and self-confidence of athletes. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1306188. https://doi.org/10.3389/FPSYG.2023.1306188
Tubić, T., Živanović, B., Lakićević, N., Zenić, N., Gilić, B., Rudas, E., Eliseev, S., Trivić, T. B., Bianco, A., & Drid, P. (2022). Psychological Distress in Elite Sambo and Recreational Athletes. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 781880. https://doi.org/10.3389/FPSYG.2022.781880
Wilson, D. C., Ruddock, A. D., Ranchordas, M. K., Thompson, S. W., & Rogerson, D. (2020). Physical profile of junior and senior amateur boxers. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 20(6). https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2020.06466
Wu, R., Yang, Q., Cui, W., Gao, D., Luo, Y., & Wang, D. (2024). Relationship between visual ability assessment and punch performance in competition in male amateur boxers. Frontiers in Physiology, 15, 1429554. https://doi.org/10.3389/FPHYS.2024.1429554
Xie, B., Lei, S., Choi, N., Choi, S. M., Wang, X., & Chen, Y. (2025). Impact of mindfulness-based interventions on sports performance and mental health: An umbrella review. Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness, 23(4), 261–272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesf.2025.06.008
Yi, W., Chen, C., Zhou, Z., Cui, W., & Wang, D. (2022). Acute effects of ballistic versus heavy-resistance exercises on countermovement jump and rear-hand straight punch performance in amateur boxers. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation 2022 14:1, 14(1), 161-. https://doi.org/10.1186/S13102-022-00557-4
Zawawi, M. A., & Firdaus, M. (2021). Heading to the 2020 East Java provincial championship: A study of physical condition in ontang-anting sasana boxing athletes. Jurnal SPORTIF : Jurnal Penelitian Pembelajaran, 7(3), 508–521. https://doi.org/10.29407/js_unpgri.v7i3.15796
Zhang, Z., Piras, A., Chen, C., Kong, B., & Wang, D. (2022). A comparison of perceptual anticipation in combat sports between experts and non-experts: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 961960. https://doi.org/10.3389/FPSYG.2022.961960
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Edy Dharma Putra Duhe, I Kadek Suardik, Suprianto Kadir, Meri Haryani, Safri Irawan