From cultural realization to psychological resilience: traditional Chinese folk songs, well-being, and intergenerational knowledge transmission in indigenous ethnic minority communities
- 1Shandong University of Arts, Jinan, Shandong, China
Abstract
Introduction: Folk songs such as Zhuang antiphonal singing, Dong Grand Song, Miao Feige, and Hua’er singing preserve cultural knowledge and ancestral traditions among ethnic minority communities in southern and southwestern China. However, their potential role as psychological resources remains insufficiently examined. This study investigated the association between cultural realization, psychological resilience, cultural identity, and meaning-making, considering the moderating roles of intergenerational transmission engagement and community cultural vitality.
Methods: A convergent mixed-methods design was employed. A total of 520 participants from six communities representing four folk-song traditions completed standardized and newly developed instruments. Quantitative data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and a moderated mediation model with a multilevel extension. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 36 participants and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Results: Cultural realization was positively associated with psychological resilience, both directly and indirectly through cultural identity and meaning-making. The indirect association through cultural identity was stronger among participants with higher engagement in intergenerational transmission. Community cultural vitality was positively associated with resilience; however, its cross-level moderating effect was not supported. Given the inclusion of only six communities, this finding remains inconclusive. Qualitative analysis identified four themes: ancestral dialogue, collective singing as a coping mechanism, living pedagogy, and fragile communal recovery.
Discussion: The findings suggest that traditional folk songs may function as culturally embedded psychological resources by supporting cultural identity, meaning-making, and resilience. Nevertheless, the cross-sectional, self-reported design precludes causal conclusions, and the observed associations may partly reflect selection into singing. Further longitudinal and multilevel research involving more communities is needed to clarify these relationships.
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BibTeX
@article{tang2026from,
title = {{From cultural realization to psychological resilience: traditional Chinese folk songs, well-being, and intergenerational knowledge transmission in indigenous ethnic minority communities}},
author = {Haichuan Tang},
journal = {Frontiers in Psychology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1977815},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1977815},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - From cultural realization to psychological resilience: traditional Chinese folk songs, well-being, and intergenerational knowledge transmission in indigenous ethnic minority communities
AU - Haichuan Tang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/21
JO - Frontiers in Psychology
DO - 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1977815
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1977815
AB - Introduction: Folk songs such as Zhuang antiphonal singing, Dong Grand Song, Miao Feige, and Hua’er singing preserve cultural knowledge and ancestral traditions among ethnic minority communities in southern and southwestern China. However, their potential role as psychological resources remains insufficiently examined. This study investigated the association between cultural realization, psychological resilience, cultural identity, and meaning-making, considering the moderating roles of intergenerational transmission engagement and community cultural vitality. Methods: A convergent mixed-methods design was employed. A total of 520 participants from six communities representing four folk-song traditions completed standardized and newly developed instruments. Quantitative data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and a moderated mediation model with a multilevel extension. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 36 participants and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Cultural realization was positively associated with psychological resilience, both directly and indirectly through cultural identity and meaning-making. The indirect association through cultural identity was stronger among participants with higher engagement in intergenerational transmission. Community cultural vitality was positively associated with resilience; however, its cross-level moderating effect was not supported. Given the inclusion of only six communities, this finding remains inconclusive. Qualitative analysis identified four themes: ancestral dialogue, collective singing as a coping mechanism, living pedagogy, and fragile communal recovery. Discussion: The findings suggest that traditional folk songs may function as culturally embedded psychological resources by supporting cultural identity, meaning-making, and resilience. Nevertheless, the cross-sectional, self-reported design precludes causal conclusions, and the observed associations may partly reflect selection into singing. Further longitudinal and multilevel research involving more communities is needed to clarify these relationships.
SN - 1664-1078
ER -