







































 Humanities and Social Science Research; Vol. 8, No. 2; 2025 

ISSN 2576-3024   E-ISSN 2576-3032 

https://doi.org/10.30560/hssr.v8n2p88 

 88 Published by IDEAS SPREAD 

 

Research on Folk Sports to Improve Residents' Social Adaptation 

Ability in Ease of Relocation 

Liu Renyi1, Peng Chenggen1 & Zhang Qing1 

1 Hunan Agricultural University, China 

Correspondence: Peng Chenggen(1983~), male, doctor, Hunan Agricultural University, China. E-mail: 379569069

qq.com 

 

Received: April 16, 2025; Accepted: April 25, 2025; Published: April 26, 2025 

 

Abstract 

While improving the living conditions of residents, the relocation project also brings new challenges of cultural 

adaptation and social integration. This study takes folk sports as an entry point to explore the unique value and 

practical path in promoting the social adaptability of relocated residents. It is found that folk sports activities 

effectively alleviate the challenges of cultural rupture and reconstruction of social relations during the relocation 

process through multiple mechanisms such as cultural identity reconstruction, social capital accumulation and 

psychological adjustment. The study proposes four practical paths: hierarchical organization, cultural innovation, 

resource protection and activity promotion, which expand the social function of folk sports and provide practical 

references for the design of the cultural dimension of the resettlement policy. 

Keywords: relocation, folk sports, social adaptability 

1. Introduction 

With the acceleration of urbanization, relocation has become an important initiative to improve the living 

conditions of residents in remote areas. In rural areas due to the support of the acquaintance society based on 

geography and blood ties, the social security of the original relocation space is relatively perfect and stable, not 

only for the elderly, but also for the relief of the poor in the village, which invariably provides solid social security 

support and makes the village a home full of humane watchfulness, but the relocation makes the migrants move 

out of the original space accompanied by the social security of the rupture[1]. The transfer of physical space is 

often accompanied by drastic changes in the cultural environment, and relocated residents are faced with multiple 

challenges such as cultural identity crises, breaks in social relations, and psychological adaptation difficulties. 

Traditional social adaptation research focuses on the economic dimension and material conditions, and there is a 

relative lack of exploration of cultural adaptation mechanisms. Folk sports, as an important carrier of traditional 

culture, combines the dual attributes of physical practice and cultural symbols, and has unique advantages in 

promoting social adaptation. Its collective participation can help rebuild social relationship networks, its ritual 

normative nature can strengthen cultural identity, and the fun nature of the activity can alleviate psychological 

pressure. Although existing studies have paid attention to the social functions of sports activities, research on the 

adaptive value of folk sports in the context of relocation is still weak. Based on cultural adaptation theory and 

social capital theory, this study adopts qualitative research and case study method to systematically investigate the 

internal mechanism and practical path of folk sports to enhance the social adaptation ability of relocated residents. 

Through in-depth analysis of the practical experiences of typical immigrant communities, the study aims to answer 

three core questions: how do folk sports promote social adaptation through cultural identity? What role does it 

play in the accumulation of social capital? What are the effective organizational and implementation paths? The 

results of the study not only help to deepen the understanding of the contemporary value of folk sports, but also 

provide a reference for improving the resettlement policy of immigrants from a cultural perspective. At the 

practical level, the intervention programs proposed in this study can directly serve the construction of immigrant 

communities, which is of dual significance in promoting social integration and cultural heritage. 

2. The Intrinsic Relationship Between Folk Sports and Social Adaptation 

2.1 Theoretical Linkage Between Cultural Identity and Social Adaptation 

Cultural identity is the psychological foundation of social adaptation of residents relocated to other places. 

Regional culture mainly focuses on the behavioral habits, religious beliefs, social organization and other 

dimensions of groups within a specific spatial scope, involving all the contents of cultural history, cultural 



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sociology, cultural philosophy and anthropology[2]. When residents leave their original place of residence and 

move into a new environment, the biggest challenge they face is not only the change of physical space, but also 

the rupture of the cultural environment. Cultural rupture often leads to an identity crisis, which is manifested in a 

strong attachment to the original culture and a rejection of the new culture. Folk sports, as a living cultural practice, 

provide a carrier of cultural continuity for migrating groups through its unique body language and ritual symbols. 

The “drum dance” organized by the Miao migrants in western Hunan not only reproduces the traditional ritual 

scenes, but also strengthens the memory of the community through the rhythm of the drums and the collective 

dance steps. Embodied cultural practices have a dual adaptive function: they can provide channels for emotional 

catharsis and cultural expression for immigrant groups, alleviating the psychological anxiety caused by relocation; 

when these activities are open to the new community, they become a window for cultural display and promote 

cultural understanding among different groups. The cultural adaptation function of folk sports presents a stage-by-

stage feature: the initial stage is mainly manifested as cultural perseverance, the middle stage develops into cultural 

adaptation, and cultural integration is finally realized. This progressive cultural adaptation process effectively 

reduces the psychological cost of social adaptation. 

2.2 Group Participation and Social Capital Accumulation 

The lack of social capital is a structural factor that restricts the social adaptation of relocated residents. The process 

of optimizing the social foundation of the relocated community, and the grassroots governance structure of the 

relocated community is also transformed in the direction conducive to rural revitalization, which has become an 

indispensable key institutional condition for the relocated community to leap from poverty alleviation to rural 

revitalization[3]. Relocation leads to the disintegration of the original social relationship network, and the 

establishment of new social relationships often faces many obstacles. The collective character of folk sports 

provides an effective path to solve this problem. From the perspective of social capital theory, folk sports activities 

promote the accumulation of social capital through three mechanisms: at the organizational level, the preparation 

of traditional sports activities requires residents to form management teams on their own initiative, a process that 

naturally fosters community leadership and organizational capacity. In one new village, a community self-

governance group with executive power was formed through the organization of a “firecracker grabbing” 

competition. At the interactive level, the division of roles and adherence to rules in sports activities fostered the 

spirit of cooperation and a sense of contract among participants. The internalization of informal norms in the group 

rope skipping activity, which required participants to cooperate precisely, helped build community trust. At the 

outreach level, cross-community sports exchanges such as the Dragon Boat Invitational and the Dragon and Lion 

Dance Invitational created opportunities for heterogeneous social connections. Migrants who have participated in 

cross-community sports activities have expanded social support networks. The social capital accumulated through 

the activities has a transformative value: community sports cadres often serve as intermediaries for employment 

information, while the trusting relationships built during the activities reduce the cost of economic interactions. 

This added value of social capital from sport participation significantly enhances residents' ability to survive and 

thrive in their new environment. 

3. Mechanisms of Folk Sports on Enhancing Social Adaptability 

3.1 Reconstruction of Social Communication Network 

Folk sports activities have unique advantages in rebuilding social communication networks. These activities are 

usually characterized by openness and inclusiveness, and can attract the participation of residents from different 

backgrounds. The simple movement design of the Xiangxi Tujia Pendulum Dance, for example, allows new 

scholars to integrate quickly, while the complex changes in formation create conditions for continuous interaction. 

Folk sports activities are often accompanied by specific social etiquette and interaction norms, such as pre-game 

greeting ceremonies and post-game bonding activities, and the programmed social scenarios provide natural 

opportunities for unfamiliar residents to interact. Such activities usually require a division of roles and 

collaborative cooperation, such as the different positions of drummers and rowers in dragon boat races, for example, 

forcing participants to establish effective communication mechanisms. Interaction based on common goals can 

often break through the barriers of daily socialization and form closer interpersonal connections. Many immigrant 

communities have successfully built cross-building and cross-unit social networks by organizing regular folklore 

and sports activities, effectively improving the problem of “neighbors not knowing each other” that prevailed 

during the early stages of relocation. 

3.2 Cultivating a Sense of Community 

Folk sports play an important role in fostering a sense of community. Collective sports activities can produce a 

strong experience of “common harmony”, i.e., a collective state of exhilaration formed under specific time and 



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space conditions. This experience has three important characteristics: spatial and temporal specificity, as activities 

are usually held during traditional festivals or specific seasons; synchronization of behaviors, as participants need 

to complete prescribed actions in a coordinated manner; and sharing of emotions, as successes or failures are 

shared by the collective. Take the Lusheng Dance of the Miao people in Guizhou as an example, when hundreds 

of people dance to the same melody, individual differences are temporarily dissolved and a strong sense of 

collective identity emerges. This experience translates into lasting community cohesion, which is manifested in 

the residents' active participation in community affairs and their conscious adherence to public norms. The 

formation of this sense of community often presents a gradual process of “activity-driven-emotional resonance-

value internalization”, which ultimately prompts residents to include community identity as an important part of 

their self-concept. 

3.3 Inheritance of Adaptive Cultural Capital 

Folk sports as an important carrier of traditional culture, the excavation of folk sports heritage resources is an 

important work in the inheritance process, and is the main direction to meet the content needs of rural 

revitalization[4]. It can be divided into three levels: capital at the skill level, the skill mastery of specific sports; 

capital at the cognitive level, including the ecological wisdom and philosophy of life embedded in traditional sports 

activities; capital at the organizational level, the social experience accumulated in the process of preparation and 

execution of activities. In the case of the Dong snatching flower cannon activity, for example, its complex 

competition rules teach participants how to maintain cooperation in competition and how to realize innovation 

within the framework of the rules, and these cognitive patterns are of direct guidance for the adaptation to new 

environments. The process of organizing the event is itself a field of social learning. By participating in the 

preparation of the event, the younger generation not only masters specific organizational skills, but also 

understands the basic principles of social functioning, such as the distribution of power and the coordination of 

resources. Multi-dimensional cultural inheritance gives traditional wisdom a new vitality in the new social 

environment. 

3.4 Constructing Channels for Psychological Adjustment 

Folk sports activities provide multi-level psychological adjustment channels for the relocated residents. From the 

individual level, regular sports activities can promote the secretion of endorphins and other pleasurable substances, 

directly improving the psychological state. At the collective level, ritualized sports activities create a safe 

psychological space where residents can temporarily escape from adaptation pressures and obtain spiritual solace. 

Take the Yunnan Yi's vegetable jumping activity as an example, its cheerful rhythm and exaggerated movement 

design have a natural function of emotional catharsis. More importantly, such activities are usually accompanied 

by rich cultural symbols and collective memories, and participants reconfirm their self-identity and cultural 

belonging through physical practices, effectively alleviating the identity anxiety caused by migration. From a 

psychological point of view, this kind of adjustment process shows a progressive trajectory of “physical 

participation-emotional catharsis-cognitive reconstruction”, which ultimately helps residents to establish a more 

positive psychological adaptation mechanism. 

3.5 Enhancement of Environmental Coping Ability 

Folk sports activities enhance residents' environmental coping ability in an all-round way. In terms of cognitive 

ability, the enhancement of social adaptability by physical exercise can be interpreted from both psychological and 

sociological perspectives. Physical exercise itself can also characterize certain psychological characteristics of the 

participants, and the duration of exercise can reflect the persistence of the individual to the goal, the frequency of 

exercise can reflect the attitude of the individual to a healthy lifestyle, and the intensity of exercise can reflect the 

degree of individual's dedication to the pursuit of the goal[5]. In terms of practical ability, the mastery of technical 

maneuvers and the requirement of teamwork cultivated the residents' problem-solving ability and collaborative 

ability. In terms of psychological quality, the experience of winning and losing in the competition enhances the 

residents' ability to resist frustration and regulate their emotions. In the case of Guangxi Zhuang's crampon racing, 

for example, the sport requires participants to coordinate their pace, maintain balance, and cope with unexpected 

situations, elements of competence that are highly compatible with the core qualities required for adaptation to 

new environments. Folk sports activities are usually conducted in relatively safe simulated environments, where 

residents can repeatedly try and make adjustments, and this mode of “trial and error learning” greatly reduces the 

cost of risk in the actual adaptation process. 

 

 



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4. Practical Paths to Optimize the Effectiveness of Social Adaptation 

4.1 Layered Organization Strategy 

For children and adolescents, it is recommended that traditional sports be systematically integrated into the school 

physical education curriculum, such as incorporating games such as hopscotch, hoop rolling and shuttlecock into 

recess activities, and arranging a fixed number of hours per week for special teaching. At the same time, we can 

organize “traditional culture in school” activities, and invite non-genetic inheritors to demonstrate their skills on 

the spot. For young and middle-aged groups, focus on activities with competitive and social attributes, such as 

regularly organizing community dragon boat leagues and traditional wrestling tournaments, and setting up 

reasonable reward mechanisms. For the elderly group, it is necessary to highlight the function of health 

maintenance and health care, and open morning exercise classes and interest groups for traditional fitness programs 

such as taijiquan and Baduanjin. In terms of activity intensity, it is recommended that a “three-step” strategy be 

adopted: the first stage focuses on simple group dances and games; the second stage introduces team projects with 

more complex rules; and the third stage carries out special activities with higher technical requirements. Special 

attention should be paid to grasping the timing of traditional festivals, and organizing special activities with a sense 

of ceremony during important festivals such as the Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, 

such as dragon and lion dances in the first month of the lunar calendar, and dragon boat races in the Dragon Boat 

Festival, etc., which are more likely to arouse the emotional resonance of the residents due to their deep cultural 

connotations. 

4.2 Cultural Integration and Innovation 

In terms of cultural connotation excavation, professionals should be organized to systematically collate the 

historical origin, cultural symbols and spiritual connotations of various traditional sports, such as the spirit of unity 

and cooperation embodied in the Dong snatching of flower cannons, and the worship of life expressed in the Miao 

drum dance. In terms of innovative forms of expression, we can try the integration mode of “traditional programs 

+”: adding modern fitness elements to traditional dances and creating fitness exercises suitable for different age 

groups; simplifying cumbersome processes and shortening the length of activities under the premise of retaining 

the core rituals; and combining with modern aesthetic interests to moderately improve the costumes and props. 

Special attention should be paid to the subjectivity and creativity of the residents, and the establishment of an 

innovative mechanism of “residents' proposal - expert guidance - community pilot - promotion and improvement”. 

The immigrant community in the retention of the traditional gyro play at the same time, innovative design team 

relay race, skills challenge and other new forms, greatly enhancing the participation of enthusiasm. This kind of 

innovation originating from the wisdom of the masses is often more grounded and less resistance to promotion. At 

the same time, a cultural audit mechanism should be established to ensure that the innovation does not deviate 

from the core values of traditional culture. 

4.3 Resource Guarantee System 

In terms of hardware facilities, it is recommended that multi-functional cultural activity centers be planned and 

constructed in immigrant communities, with special workshops, display areas and activity venues equipped with 

the necessary traditional sports equipment. The design of the venues should take into account functionality and 

culture, such as using traditional architectural elements for decoration. Talent construction should focus on 

building a “three-in-one” training system: selecting and training skilled cultural inheritors through the “non-genetic 

inheritance training program”; implementing the “community cultural backbone training program”; improving 

activity organization capacity; and implementing the “community cultural backbone training program”. The 

“Community Cultural Backbone Training Program” is being implemented to improve activity organization ability, 

and professional social sports instructors are being introduced to provide technical guidance. It is recommended 

that a “master and apprentice” inheritance mechanism be established, with appropriate subsidies given to the 

inheritors. Financial security to establish diversified input channels: to fight for special government cultural 

funding support; mobilize local enterprises to sponsor; the establishment of community cultural funds to accept 

donations from residents; to explore the moderately remunerated service model. At the same time to improve the 

financial management system to ensure that the use of funds transparent and efficient. It is recommended to set up 

a cultural activities council composed of residents' representatives, responsible for day-to-day management and 

decision-making, and gradually realize autonomous operation. 

4.4 Mechanisms for Promoting Activities 

Within the community, it is recommended to build a “point-line-side” promotion network: “point” to cultivate 

cultural demonstration households and activists; “line” to set up various interest groups and performance teams; 

“side” to carry out festival activities with full participation. On the “line”, various interest groups and performance 



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teams should be formed; and on the “side”, festivals should be organized with the participation of all members of 

the community. A regularized mechanism of “weekly activities, monthly competitions and annual festivals” has 

been established. In terms of community exchanges, we regularly hold “Neighborhood Cultural Festivals”, 

organize cross-community competitions and skill exchanges, and set up an open platform for display. In terms of 

wider promotion, it is necessary to make good use of various cultural display platforms, such as organizing teams 

to take part in regional folk culture exhibitions and traditional sports competitions. Special attention should be paid 

to the role of typical demonstration, regularly selecting the “Star of Cultural Inheritance”, “the most beautiful 

sports family”, etc., and promoting the advanced experience through the report of deeds, experience sharing 

meetings and other forms. The construction of incentive mechanisms should give equal weight to material rewards 

and spiritual encouragement, set up a special award fund, award certificates of honor, and provide opportunities 

for outbound exchanges. Publicity and promotion should be a combination of traditional means and modern media: 

set up cultural bulletin boards in the community, make activity documentary albums; at the same time, use new 

media platforms to establish communities, make short videos and carry out online display. It is suggested that an 

annual “Traditional Culture Achievement Exhibition” be held to show the effectiveness of the activities in all 

aspects through physical display, on-site performance, interactive experience and other forms. 

5.Conclusion 

The study of the mechanism of folk sports on the improvement of residents' social adaptability in relocation has 

built up a “theory-practice” integrated research. It is found that folk sports deeply intervene in the social adaptation 

process of the residents by virtue of the dual path of cultural identity and social capital accumulation, which not 

only awakens cultural memory and reshapes the sense of belonging, but also promotes the reconstruction of social 

network and capital accumulation through group interaction. Rebuilding social networks, fostering a sense of 

community, and passing on cultural capital play a key role in providing emotional support and capacity building 

for residents to integrate into the new environment. Hierarchical organization, cultural integration and innovation, 

resource protection, and digital empowerment provide a practical implementation framework for community 

governance. The depth and breadth of the study can be further expanded to continuously explore the value of folk 

sports in promoting harmonious social development and the positive interaction between cultural heritage and 

social progress, so as to help relocated residents better integrate into the new life. 

Acknowledgments 

This article is a research outcome of the Hunan Provincial Philosophy and Social Sciences Foundation Project: 

The Role of Folk Sports in Facilitating Social Adaptation of Relocated Residents in the Context of Rural 

Revitalization (Project No.: 22YBA100). 

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