Psychosocial outcomes of folk dance interventions compared with other dance forms: a meta-analysis

This study aimed to determine the effects of folk dance interventions on individuals' psychosocial outcomes and to compare these effects with those of other dance forms.

A meta-analytic design was used, and experimental and quasi-experimental studies published between 2000 and 2026 were reviewed. A total of 20 independent studies met the inclusion criteria, of which 10 examined folk dance interventions and 10 examined other dance forms. Effect sizes were calculated using Hedges' g, and the main analyses were conducted using a random-effects model. Subgroup differences were tested using a mixed-effects model, and the extent to which dance type accounted for between-study variance was examined through meta-regression.

The findings showed a positive, moderate, and statistically significant overall effect of dance interventions on psychosocial outcomes (g = 0.66, 95% CI [0.40, 0.92]). The pooled effect size was g = 0.58 for other dance forms and g = 0.76 for folk dance interventions. Although the effect size for folk dance interventions was numerically larger, the difference between the two subgroups was not statistically significant [Q_m(1) = 1.06, p = 0.304]. Dance type accounted for approximately 37% of the observed between-study variance; however, the meta-regression coefficient was not statistically significant.

These results suggest that folk dance interventions and other dance forms may provide comparable benefits for psychosocial outcomes. Nevertheless, the findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the high level of heterogeneity, the limited number of studies, and the possibility of publication bias.