







































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

ISSN 2576-3024   E-ISSN 2576-3032 

https://doi.org/10.30560/hssr.v8n2p93 

 93 Published by IDEAS SPREAD 

 

The Construction of Inter-Embedded Intermingling Mechanism of 

Folk Sports to Promote Social Adaptation of Relocated Residents 

Liu Qian1, Peng Chenggen1 & Zhang Qing1 

1 Hunan Agricultural University, China 

Correspondence: Peng Chenggen (1983~), male, doctor, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, 

China. E-mail: 379569069 qq.com 

 

Received: April 10, 2025; Accepted: April 25, 2025; Published: April 26, 2025 

 

Abstract 

This thesis focuses on the relationship between folk sports and social adaptation of relocated residents, 

comprehensively utilizes multidisciplinary theories such as sociology, culture, anthropology, etc., and combines 

case studies and theoretical analyses to deeply analyze the mechanism of the role of folk sports on social adaptation 

of the relocated residents, and systematically reveals the realistic dilemmas faced by the residents' social adaptation 

and the participation in folk sports. On this basis, the mechanism of inter-embedded integration is constructed from 

four dimensions: social symbiosis, emotional connection, benefit guarantee and collaborative governance, aiming 

to provide systematic theoretical references and feasible practical paths for promoting the integration of the 

relocated residents into the new environment and realizing their social adaptation, and to help promote the 

innovation of relocated communities' governance and the development of cultural inheritance. 

Keywords: folk sports, relocation, social adaptation, Mutual Embedding and Integration 

1. Introduction 

Under the coordinated promotion of rural revitalization and new urbanization strategy, the relocation project, as 

an important path to crack regional poverty and optimize resource allocation, has promoted a large number of 

residents to realize inter-regional relocation. Although this process improves living conditions, it triggers profound 

social reconstruction. As the relocated residents are separated from their original places of residence, they face 

drastic changes in culture, social relations and lifestyles, and problems such as cultural rupture, disintegration of 

social networks, and psychological disorder are highlighted, making social adaptation an urgent problem to be 

solved. As a living carrier of traditional culture, folk sports carry the collective memory of regional groups, and 

have the functions of maintaining social relations and passing on cultural traditions. It is not only a physical 

exercise practice, but also contains deep cultural connotations and social values, and has unique advantages in 

enhancing social interaction and strengthening group identity. Incorporating folk sports into the study of social 

adaptation of relocated residents provides new ideas for expanding the functions of folk sports and solving the 

adaptation problems of relocated groups. However, the role of folk sports in community governance has not been 

sufficiently explored in the current academic field, especially the lack of systematic research on the mechanism of 

promoting the social adaptation of relocated residents. Therefore, an in-depth analysis of the interlocking 

mechanisms of folk sports and the social adaptation of relocated residents is of great theoretical and practical 

significance in promoting the integration of relocated residents into new communities and the development of folk 

sports heritage. 

2. The Mechanism of the Role of Folk Sports on the Social Adaptation of Relocated Residents 

2.1 Basic Connotation and Dimension of Social Adaptation 

The social adaptation of relocated residents is a multi-dimensional and dynamic process, mainly covering three 

core dimensions: structural adaptation, relational adaptation and cultural adaptation [1]. 

At the structural adaptation level, relocated residents need to break the original rhythm of life and behavioral 

patterns, and gradually adapt to the institutional arrangements and lifestyles in the new environment. For example, 

residents relocated from mountainous areas to urban communities need to learn and accept urbanized management 

rules, such as property management systems and garbage classification norms, to complete the transition from 

“logic of rural life” to “logic of urban life”. 



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Relational adaptation focuses on the reconstruction of social networks and the adjustment of interaction methods. 

Relocation breaks the original structure of neighborhood and kinship, and after entering the new community, 

residents have to re-establish trust and build mutual support relationships in a society of strangers. Since most 

residents in the new community come from different regions and have different living habits and cultural 

backgrounds, how to achieve effective communication and harmonious coexistence in a pluralistic environment 

has become an important challenge for their social integration. 

Cultural adaptation is related to the transformation of values, behavior and identity. The cultural atmosphere of 

the new community is often different from that of the original place of residence, so residents need to maintain 

their original cultural characteristics while understanding and integrating into the value system of the new 

environment, gradually forming a new cultural identity, and promoting the integration and coexistence of cultural 

aspects. 

The three dimensions of structure, relationship and culture are intertwined and interact with each other, which 

together constitute the overall picture of social adaptation of the relocated residents, and are the important basis 

for their integration into the new community and social reconstruction. 

2.2 Multiple Social Functions of Folk Sports 

As a physical practice activity deeply rooted in local culture, folk sports have unique cultural genes and social 

attributes, and build up a multi-dimensional function system [2]. It not only transcends fitness and entertainment, 

but also plays a key role in community integration, emotional connection and value consensus generation, and is 

an important mechanism to promote the social adaptation of the relocated residents, and the core functions have 

four dimensions. 

(1) Cultural Identity Function: The Link Between Memory Transmission and Identity Reconstruction 

From the perspective of cultural anthropology, folk sports are the figurative expression of cultural symbols and 

traditional carriers, such as the Lusheng Dance of the Miao people in Qiandongnan, Guizhou, which carries the 

memories of the ethnic groups, and continues the cultural traditions and delineates the cultural boundaries through 

regular activities after relocation. 

Based on the theory of social identity, individuals participate in cultural practices to construct “our” group 

boundaries, thus enhancing their sense of identity belonging [3]. The Yi residents in the relocated community in 

Yunnan integrate the torch festival folklore and sports into the community cultural festival, attract the participation 

of local residents, promote cultural interaction and mutual identity, reshape the community cultural identity, help 

relocated residents find a sense of belonging, and promote the integration of residents from different cultural 

backgrounds. 

(2) Social Function: A Medium to Rebuild Connections and Strengthen Community Interaction 

Individual social relationship network is the core of social adaptation. Folk sports create a structured social scene 

for relocated residents through group and interaction, and promote the reconstruction of social relationship network. 

In the relocated Yao community in Guangxi, the “long drum dance” breaks down the social barriers of the residents 

through multi-player collaboration, and the participants use their interests as a link in rehearsals and performances, 

moving from unfamiliarity to trust and forming a close community.  

The competition mechanism of folk sports events also promotes multiculturalism. Residents from different 

backgrounds work together to achieve their goals and learn from each other in team training and competitions, 

allowing ethnic cultures to exchange and learn from each other in the process. The neighborhood relationship thus 

established naturally extends to mutual assistance in life, forming an atmosphere of resource sharing and promoting 

the relocated residents to move from “physical cohabitation” to “social integration”, highlighting the key role of 

folk sports in fostering social capital in the community and building a harmonious neighborhood relationship. 

(3) Psychological Adjustment Function: A Channel for Releasing Pressure and Building Psychological 

Resilience 

Facing the sudden change of living environment and reconstruction of social relations, relocated residents 

generally face the problem of psychological adjustment [4]. Folk sports, with their fun, participation and 

inclusiveness, have become an important carrier for residents to regulate their emotions and enhance their 

psychological resilience. Yunnan border communities will Dai “elephant foot drum dance” adapted for stress relief 

exercise, to help residents release pressure; Sichuan earthquake community borrowed “Sichuan opera face 

changing experience camp” to provide emotional support for residents to help them get out of the psychological 



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haze. This kind of collective activity builds a community support network, which effectively enhances the 

residents' psychological resilience to cope with environmental changes. 

Folk sports are not only a channel for emotional relief, but also internalize positive spiritual values into residents' 

behavioral norms and value identity through practice, becoming an important force in shaping healthy psychology 

and positive values.  

(4) Corrective Function: A Field for Conveying Awareness of Rules and Cultivating Community Norms 

Folk sports are essentially a kind of “physical education” containing social rules. For example, in the Mongolian 

“Naadam” wrestling competition, players need to follow the rules of competition, such as “no leg-holding”, and 

practice the etiquette of “friendship first”, so as to implicitly accept the values of fairness and discipline in the 

competition. In the course of the competition, they will implicitly accept the values of fairness and discipline. In 

community practice, the edifying value of folk sports is more prominent. A relocated community in Zhejiang 

combines the rules of dragon boat racing with community governance, linking teamwork performance with 

volunteer service, and corresponding restraining measures for non-compliance. In the process of participation, 

residents extend the awareness of rules in sports activities to community life, understand the relationship between 

collective interests and personal responsibility, realize the transformation from “physical relocation” to 

“institutional integration”, and effectively promote the cultivation of community norms and the establishment of 

public order. The residents who have been relocated to another place will be able to realize the change from 

“physical relocation” to “institutional integration” and effectively promote the cultivation of community norms 

and establishment of public order. 

3. Difficulties of Social Adaptation and Folk Sports Participation of Relocated Residents 

3.1 Adaptation Barriers after Relocation 

With the promotion of the national relocation project for poverty alleviation, thousands of residents who used to 

live in remote mountainous areas have moved into newly built centralized resettlement areas. This drastic change 

in life is not only a spatial movement, but also a deep reconstruction of social relations, cultural identity and 

psychological expectations, and relocated residents often face multiple barriers to adaptation. 

The problem of group marginalization is prominent. Relocated residents often become “outsiders” in the new 

community, due to differences in regional dialects, lifestyles, cultural traditions, etc., it is difficult to integrate into 

the community network of the original residents, forming a hidden stratification between “insiders” and 

“outsiders”. The implicit stratification of “insiders” and “outsiders” is formed [5]. This structural marginalization 

limits the voice and mobility of the relocated residents in the public space, further aggravating the difficulty of 

their social adaptation. 

The lack of identity and psychological gap are significant. The network of geographic, blood and kinship 

relationships in the original community has been dismantled, making it difficult for relocated residents to find a 

sense of belonging in the new environment [6]. Some middle-aged and elderly people are especially difficult to 

adapt to the rhythm of urbanization, and face new problems such as property management, cost of living, and 

alienation of neighbors, which leads to a strong psychological gap, and even a reverse psychology of “loneliness 

after relocation”. 

The degree of community integration in the new community is generally low, and the willingness and ability of 

the relocated residents to participate in public affairs is insufficient. In the absence of support and guidance from 

acquaintances, many relocated residents tend to live a “closed and self-contained” and “family-oriented life”, and 

lack a sense of identity and participation in the cultural activities organized by the community. 

3.2 Realistic Dilemmas Facing Folk Sports Participation 

(1) Cultural Differences and Identity Conflicts 

Cultural differences and identity conflicts are prominent obstacles to the social adaptation of relocated residents, 

often manifested in two-way exclusion between relocated groups and indigenous people. For example, the dragon 

boat race in a Three Gorges resettlement area in Chongqing encountered resistance from aboriginal people because 

it was inconsistent with local cultural practices, making it difficult to sustain the activity and weakening the 

relocated residents' sense of cultural belonging. At the same time, the lack of display platforms has also made it 

difficult to pass on folk sports, and young people's knowledge of traditions is insufficient, resulting in 

intergenerational ruptures in cultural identity. The above problems not only weaken the adaptive function of folk 

sports, but also aggravate the group gap and hinder the process of community integration. 

(2) Lack of Resources and Insufficient Protection 



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The shortage of resources is a key factor restricting the development of folk sports in relocation communities, 

mainly in terms of venues, equipment, funds and talents [7]. For example, a resettlement site in Gansu only has a 

simple basketball court and lacks facilities such as lion dance props and martial arts equipment, which restricts the 

development of folk sports programs. Government funding is insufficient and is mostly used for festivals, with a 

lack of support for daily programs. The lack of professional talents also makes the activities rely on the spontaneous 

organization of the residents, and the lack of systematic guidance leads to irregularities in the development of the 

project, poor continuity, and difficulty in realizing the function of promoting social adaptation. 

(3) Inadequate Institutional Mechanisms 

There are many imperfections in the institutional mechanism for promoting the participation of relocated residents 

in folk sports and realizing social adaptation. In some communities, there are problems of unclear departmental 

responsibilities and blurred division of powers and responsibilities, leading to cumbersome approval procedures 

for activities and inefficient coordination of resources. There is a lack of effective evaluation mechanisms, with 

excessive reliance on quantitative indicators such as the number of participants and neglect of key results such as 

cultural identity and social relations, making it difficult to accurately reflect actual results and optimize policies. 

All these problems constrain the sustainable development and functioning of folklore sports in relocated 

communities. 

4. The Interlocking Mechanism of Folklore Sports to Promote the Social Adaptation of Relocated Residents 

In the process of promoting the comprehensive integration of relocated people, a single material settlement cannot 

satisfy the deep-seated social adaptation needs of the residents. Folk sports, as a form of social practice that 

integrates culture, behavior and institutions, has unique advantages in breaking down group barriers, activating 

community vitality and perpetuating cultural identity [8]. In order to promote the multi-dimensional embeddedness 

of relocated residents in the new community, a social adaptation inter-embedding and intermingling mechanism 

supported by folklore sports is constructed from four levels: commonality, emotion, interest and institution. 

4.1 Constructing a Mechanism for Residents' Social Symbiosis in the Direction of Commonality 

(1) Tapping Cultural Commonality 

Digging deep into the common elements between the folklore sports culture of the relocated residents' place of 

origin and the culture of the relocated place is the basis for promoting cultural integration and constructing a social 

symbiosis mechanism. The similarities in different cultures can be systematically sorted out and analyzed by 

establishing a cross-regional folklore and sports culture database. For example, in the Tujia and Miao communities 

in western Hubei, the “Pendulum Dance” and the “Wooden Drum Dance” share certain commonalities in terms of 

movement rhythms and dance forms, so the movement elements of the two can be fused to create a new collective 

dance. Regularly organize “Cultural Inclusion Workshops”, inviting folklore experts and resident representatives 

to participate in cultural innovation activities. They share the characteristics and connotations of their respective 

cultures, discuss the possibilities and ways of cultural integration, promote mutual understanding and acceptance 

of cultural symbols, and break down cultural barriers. 

(2) Creating a Common Living Space 

Adopt the concept of “micro-renewal” to remodel community space, set up folklore and sports-themed landscapes 

in public areas, and create public spaces with cultural characteristics. For example, in a relocated community in 

Jiangxi Province, a “folk sports corridor” was built to display the history, skills and cultural connotations of 

different ethnic sports, so that residents can come into contact with and understand folk sports culture in their daily 

lives. Convenient places for folk sports activities are established, and facilities such as multi-functional sports 

fields and cultural activity rooms are built to meet the diversified activity needs of residents. Brand-name activities 

such as “Community Games” and “Folk Sports Carnival” are organized regularly. Residents collaborate and 

compete with each other to experience the joys of folklore sports, enhance the sense of community life, and 

promote mutual integration of residents at the life level. 

4.2 Using “folk” Culture as a Metaphor, Building Residents' Emotional Connection Mechanism 

(1) Inherit and Innovate Folk Sports Culture 

Based on the protection and inheritance of traditional folk sports culture, folk sports are developed innovatively 

by combining the characteristics of modern society and the needs of residents. Using modern scientific and 

technological means, traditional folk sports are digitized and protected. For example, a community in Guizhou has 

transformed the “one-bamboo floating” sport into a virtual reality game, allowing residents to experience this 

unique folk sport in a virtual environment, attracting the attention and participation of a large number of young 



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people. Encouraging residents to transform their folk sports into a lifestyle, simplifying the traditional “dragon 

dance” into a family version of the “parent-child dragon lantern production” to enhance the fun and interactivity 

of cultural inheritance. Establishing folk sports inheritance bases, inviting non-genetic inheritors to carry out skill 

training, cultivating local cultural talents, and providing talent support for the inheritance and development of folk 

sports. 

(2) Carry out Emotional Exchange Activities 

Carry out emotional exchange activities with folk sports as a carrier. In a relocated community in Guangxi, a “My 

Folklore Story” sharing meeting was held, in which residents recounted their hometown's cultural stories and 

personal emotional experiences in combination with their participation in folklore sports activities. Through 

sharing, emotional resonance was enhanced. Organize activities such as “Folk Sports Parent-Child Day” and 

“Neighborhood Mutual Aid Competition” to enhance intergenerational and inter-neighborhood emotional 

exchanges. Make use of traditional festivals to plan thematic cultural activities, such as the “Folk Sports and 

Culture Week” of the Dragon Boat Festival, combining folk sports activities with festival culture, creating a 

community emotional atmosphere, and allowing residents to realize the depth of emotional embeddedness. 

4.3 Taking the Adjustment of Interests as the Key to Build a Mechanism to Protect the Interests of Residents 

(1) Establishing an Interest Coordination Mechanism 

Construct a community folk sports development committee composed of representatives of the government, 

enterprises and residents, and formulate a Convention on the Protection of Rights and Interests of Folk Sports 

Activities. Introduce consultative and democratic mechanisms in event organization and resource allocation. 

Setting up conflict mediation groups to resolve cultural conflicts and interest disputes. For example, a community 

in Yunnan feeds the proceeds from folklore sports tourism into community cultural construction, protects residents' 

rights and interests, stimulates participation, and promotes the harmonious development of the community. 

(2) Provide Economic Support and Employment Opportunities 

The government has set up a support fund for the folk sports industry, giving tax concessions to enterprises 

developing ethnic sports tourism products and organizing special events, and prying enterprises to participate in 

the development of the folk sports industry. A relocated community in Hunan relies on traditional programs to 

create folk sports tourism routes, attracting tourists while boosting residents' employment and income. Folkloric 

skills such as “lion dance” and “martial arts” are transformed into vocational skills, and jobs are developed in 

cooperation with cultural and tourism enterprises. This mode of economic support and employment empowerment 

realizes the mutual promotion of cultural heritage and economic development, and effectively enhances the 

enthusiasm of residents to participate in folk sports. 

4.4 Focusing on Institutional Mechanisms, Building a Collaborative and Common Governance Mechanism for 

Residents 

(1) Define Departmental Responsibilities and Division of Labor 

Formulate guidelines for folk sports to promote the social adaptation of residents who have been relocated to other 

places, and clarify the responsibilities and division of labor of the cultural and tourism departments, civil affairs 

departments, education departments and other relevant departments. For example, the cultural and tourism 

departments are responsible for guiding cultural inheritance, excavating and protecting folk sports cultural 

resources, and organizing cultural activities; the civil affairs departments are responsible for community 

organization and coordination, promoting community residents' participation in folk sports activities, and solving 

related problems in the community; the education departments are responsible for talent cultivation, incorporating 

folk sports into the school curriculum, and fostering young people's interest in and skills in folk sports. A joint 

meeting system has been established to strengthen communication and collaboration between departments to form 

a synergy of efforts. At the same time, introduce the participation of social organizations, such as cooperating with 

sports associations and college teams to carry out professional guidance and assessment, giving full play to the 

advantages of all parties and jointly promoting the work of folk sports to promote the social adaptation of residents. 

(2) Establishment of Evaluation and Feedback Mechanism 

Construct a multi-dimensional evaluation index system that includes cultural identity, social network, and 

economic benefits to ensure the scientificity and rationality of the evaluation. Adopt the multi-dimensional 

assessment method of “online questionnaire + offline interview + big data monitoring” to collect feedback from 

residents on a regular basis, so as to comprehensively understand the development of folklore sports activities and 

the social adaptation of residents. A mechanism for applying assessment results has been established, and 



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assessment reports are used as an important basis for policy adjustment and resource allocation. On the basis of 

the assessment results, problems will be identified and adjustments and improvements will be made in a timely 

manner, forming a closed-loop management model of “practice-assessment-improvement”, continually improving 

the institutional mechanism for the promotion of social adaptation by folkloric sports, and promoting the sustained 

and in-depth development of the work. 

5. Conclusion 

As a dual carrier of culture and sports, folk sports have a unique and important value in promoting the social 

adaptation of relocated residents. Through an in-depth analysis of the mechanism of folk sports on the social 

adaptation of relocated residents, its positive influence on cultural identity, social interaction, psychological 

adjustment and indoctrination is revealed. In view of the problems of cultural differences, lack of resources, 

insufficient participation and imperfect mechanisms, the construction of an interlocking mechanism covering 

social symbiosis, emotional connection, interest protection and collaborative governance can effectively resolve 

conflicts, integrate resources, stimulate motivation and provide systematic support for the integration of relocated 

residents into the new community. 

The study concludes that folk sports, with their natural local, collective and ceremonial characteristics, are an 

important cultural tool for rebuilding the sense of community and promoting the emotional connection of residents, 

as well as a cultural link between the “hometown” and the “new home”. Through institutionalized and organized 

practice, folk sports can help stimulate cultural belonging, flexibly integrate into community governance, and help 

relocated residents realize the transformation and upgrading from spatial resettlement to social integration. 

In the future, we should strengthen the empirical research on folk sports in relocated communities, explore 

diversified practice paths, and promote their deep integration into urban and rural community governance systems. 

Combined with regional realities, more targeted measures should be formulated to help relocated residents' 

sustainable development and promote the inheritance and revitalization of folk sports culture. 

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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