The effect of dance over depression.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Therapeutic Arts

Background:

• Dance and movement therapy offers drugless treatment for depression using music, exercise, and sensory stimuli.
• Depression is a prevalent mental health concern, particularly among young adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of a 12-week dance training program on depression levels in university students.
• To determine if dance intervention can serve as an effective, non-pharmacological treatment for depression.

Main Methods:

• 120 healthy university students (ages 20-24) were randomly assigned to a dance training group (DTG; N=60) or a control group (CG; N=60).
• The DTG participated in dance training three times weekly for 12 weeks.
• Depression levels were assessed using the Beck Depression Scale before and after the 12-week intervention period for both groups.

Main Results:

• The dance training group showed a statistically significant decrease in depression levels after 12 weeks (p < 0.05).
• Both male and female participants in the dance training group experienced meaningful reductions in depression.
• The control group exhibited no significant changes in depression levels over the 12-week study period (p > 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Dance training is an effective intervention for reducing depression in university students.
• Dance and movement therapy presents a viable, drugless therapeutic option for managing depression.
• The positive effects of dance on mental well-being suggest its potential as a complementary treatment for depression.