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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2020 Feb;48(2):300060520902610.
doi: 10.1177/0300060520902610.

The effects of a dance intervention on somatic symptoms and emotional distress in adolescent girls: A randomized controlled trial

Anna Duberg  1 , Göran Jutengren  2 , Lars Hagberg  1 , Margareta Möller  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The effects of a dance intervention on somatic symptoms and emotional distress in adolescent girls: A randomized controlled trial

Anna Duberg et al. J Int Med Res. 2020 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether a dance intervention for adolescent girls reduces stress-related symptoms.

Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial of an after-school intervention. Participants were 112 girls aged 13 to 18 years with stress-related somatic symptoms and emotional distress. The intervention comprised twice-weekly dance sessions for 8 months with a focus on enjoyment and socialization. A questionnaire was administered at baseline and after 8, 12 and 20 months. Participants rated the frequency with which they had experienced somatic symptoms and emotional distress during the previous 3 months.

Results: After the intervention, there was a significantly greater reduction in somatic symptoms and emotional distress in the dance intervention group than in the control group. The difference in the mean score change on a 5-point scale was 0.26 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.04 to 0.47) for somatic symptoms and 0.30 (95% CI: 0.04 to 0.58) for emotional distress.

Conclusion: Dance interventions may reduce somatic symptoms and emotional distress in adolescent girls, and may constitute a nonpharmacological complement to school health services. However, continued participation is needed for long-term sustainable results. Additional randomized studies are required to further evaluate the effect of this type of intervention in different settings.

This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov. Study name: ‘Influencing Adolescent Girls With Creative Dance Twice Weekly’.

URL: http: //clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT01523561.

Trial registration number: NCT01523561.

Keywords: Stress-related problems; adolescent girls; dance intervention; emotional distress; mental health; physical activity; somatic symptoms.

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