1. Healthcare

Improving self-rated health in adolescent girls with dance intervention
A randomized controlled trial
Duberg, A. R.PT 1, 2, Hagberg, L. Health Economist, Ph.D 1, Sunvisson, H. Ph. D 2, Moeller, M. Professor, R. PT 1,2
1
Centre for Health Care Sciences, Örebro County Council, Sweden, 2Örebro University, Sweden
Background:
There is an increasing prevalence of psychological health
problems among children and adolescents, especially
girls. In Sweden, mental illness such as stress and psychosomatic symptoms in adolescent girls is one of the
most urgent health problems we face. Knowledge of
beneficial effects of regular physical activity on mental health are widespread. Dance is a popular form of
exercise also known to increase a sense of self-control
which can contribute to reduced stress.
Aim:
To evaluate if creative dance twice weekly during a period of 8 months is effective in influencing self-rated
health in girls with psychosomatic and stress symptoms,
13-18 years old.
Inclusion criteria: Girls 13-18 years old seeking school health care for problems such as
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headache
pain in the neck, shoulder or back
stomach ache
sleeping disorders
stress, depression
Methods:
A RCT with a long-term follow-up (2 years), carried out in Sweden. Recruitment was carried out
through the school health care. A total of 158
adolescent girls with psychosomatic problems and
recurrent experiences of stress were enrolled. The
subjects were randomized to either a dance intervention group or control group. Data collection
was by questionnaire. The primary outcome was
self-rated health (SRH).
Several studies have shown that SRH is a strong
predictor for morbidity and mortality. The question “In general would you say your health is”
is regarded as simple, direct and is assessing unknown perceptions and values related to respondents’ health status in a unique manner. Validity
and reliability has been tested [Bjorner J et al. Self-Rated
Health – A Useful Concept in Research, Prevention and Clinical
Medicine. Swedish council for planning and coordination of research, Report 96:6].
The dance intervention:
The dance intervention was carried out twice a
week for 75 minutes. The focus was on the joy
of movement and not on performance. The
theme varied from african dance, showjazz
and hip hop to contemporary dance. Creative
elements was included and body awareness
and relaxation was always part of the class.
Results:
Compliance to the intervention was 70% and
86% attended the study follow up. The increase
in self rated health was significantly higher in
the dance intervention group compared to
the control group at both follow ups (p= .035
and p= .001). See Table. Explanations to this
improvement can possibly be that the dance
group experienced an increase in energy and
self-esteem.
Table.
Descriptives for Self Rated Health (SRH).
The SRH question is “In general would you say your health is” and the
answering alternatives are:
1. Very bad, 2. Bad, 3. Neither good or bad, 4. Good, 5. Very good.
Intervention group
Control group
Mean S D
n Mean S D
n
Value
Value
Baseline
3.33 (0.87) 57 3.58
8 months
4.06 (0.68) 50 3.93
Change*
0.63 (0.91) 48 0.32
12 months 4.24 (0.78) 49 3.89
Change*
0.83 (0.96) 47 0.27
*= Mean change score relative base line.
Conclusion:
(0.80)
(0.69)
(0.77)
(0.79)
(0.90)
P-value for
group comparison
101
.057
95
94
.035
90
89
.001
The intervention with dance showed a significant
improvement in self rated health compared to the
control group. This suggests that a dance intervention twice weekly for 8 months can be suitable for adolescent girls with psychosomatic and
stress symptoms. Four months after the intervention the improvement still remained.