ERIC Number: EJ919254
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1464-7893
EISSN: N/A
Dance 4 Your Life: Exploring the Health and Well-Being Implications of a Contemporary Dance Intervention for Female Adolescents
Connolly, Mary Kate; Quin, Edel; Redding, Emma
Research in Dance Education, v12 n1 p53-66 2011
The purpose of this study was to assess the physiological and psychological impact of contemporary dance classes on adolescent females. Fifty-five females, aged 14 were recruited from secondary schools in the UK. The intervention constituted a program of contemporary dance classes with an emphasis on building muscular strength. Full ethics approval was granted by a Higher Education institutional Research Ethics Committee. A series of physiological and psychological assessments were undertaken pre and post the dance intervention: upper body strength, flexibility, aerobic fitness, self-esteem, intrinsic motivation, and attitudes toward dance and group physical activities were measured using standard procedures. A paired t-test was used to analyse changes between pre- to post-testing. There was a statistical increase in areas of physical fitness. Aerobic capacity and upper body strength increased significantly (p=0.001 and 0.002 respectively). No significant change occurred in flexibility. Self Esteem statistically increased (p=0.01). No change occurred in Intrinsic Motivation, however motivation scores were higher than average at pre-test stage. Attitudes towards dance were very positive both pre- and post-intervention. This study showed that dance can statistically improve components of physical fitness, and psychological well-being. Participants demonstrated positive attitudes towards dance. (Contains 2 figures.)
Descriptors: Muscular Strength, Intervention, Physical Activities, Females, Self Esteem, Physical Fitness, Motivation, Well Being, Adolescents, Program Effectiveness, Secondary School Students, Foreign Countries, Dance Education, Student Attitudes, Attitude Change, Physical Activity Level
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A