The effects of folk-dance in schools on physical and mental health for at-risk adolescents: a pilot intervention study

Abstract

We present the findings from a pilot study to evaluate the effects of a six-week adapted folk-dance intervention on physical and mental health for at-risk adolescents conducted in schools. At-risk adolescents are at particular risk for sedentary behavior, poor mental health, and lower quality of life, and are likely to benefit from motivating and health-promoting activities such as dance. However, it can be challenging to conduct and evaluate evidence-based interventions with this population. We conducted a convergent parallel mixed-method design using pre-post measures of mental well-being, as well as pre-post measures using inertial measurement units to assess physical activity during a 6-week adapted folk-dance intervention. At the completion of the study, we conducted semi-structured interviews with all stakeholder groups. We observed significant improvements in mental well-being, as indicated by increased WEMWBS and MHC-SF scores, while the UCLA score showed no significant change, with these outcomes independent of age and gender. Furthermore, at-risk adolescents reduced the time spent in stationary/resting position, while their heart rates were also reduced by ∼15% in such conditions. Our results suggest that at-risk youth who participated in adapted folk-dance became more enthusiastic and showed more willingness to move over the course of the intervention. Quantitative results were supported by interviews, which found that participants responded positively to the adapted folk-dance classes, and reported both elevated physical exertion and high levels of enjoyment. The mixed-method research design also provided insights into the suitability of data collection methods for this hard-to-reach population. We report on these outcomes, including best practices for working within schools on health-promoting physical activities.

Keywords: arts & health; at-risk adolescents; folk-dance; mental health; physical activity; physical health; well-being.

Figure 1

Mean (gray bars) and individual data for the duration of the stationary periods (A) and the respective heart rate during stationary periods (B) before (Pre) and after intervention (Post). Each color represents a participant (S) and their trend from Pre- to Post-intervention.

Figure 2

Mean (gray bars) and individual data for the duration of physical activity levels (upper row (A–D)) and their respective heart rates (bottom row (E–H)) before (Pre) and after intervention (Post). Each color represents a participant (S) and their trend from Pre- to Post-intervention.