Effects of Biodanza on Stress, Depression, and Sleep Quality in University Students

Effects of Biodanza® SRT on Motor, Cognitive, and Behavioral Symptoms in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: A Randomized Controlled Study

Rolando Toro's Biodanza (SRT) is a therapeutic strategy that uses movement, music, and emotions to induce integrative living experiences. The present study aims to explore the efficacy of a three-month SRT intervention on motor, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). This study employed a randomized between-group design. Twenty-eight non-demented PD patients were enrolled in this study. Out of these, fourteen patients were assigned to the active treatment group using the Biodanza SRT system and fourteen to the untreated control group. The study group attended 2 h SRT classes once a week, completing twelve lessons in twelve weeks. All patients underwent: (i) a neurological examination to measure the severity of motor symptoms, balance, mobility, and risk of falls, and (ii) a neuropsychological battery to assess cognitive status, apathy, depressive symptomatology, and perceived quality of life (QoL), at study entry (T0) and at twelve weeks (T1, end of dance training). At T1, we observed a significant improvement in motor (i.e., severity of motor symptoms and balance) and cognitive parameters (i.e., working memory and delayed verbal memory) in all treated patients compared with the controls. Furthermore, a significant improvement in the social support dimension was found in all treated patients compared to the controls. A trend toward increased apathy was found in untreated patients at T1. The three-month Biodanza intervention significantly ameliorated the motor parameters of PD patients, with a parallel improvement in cognitive and QoL status. Hence, Biodanza intervention can, in the short term, represent a useful personalized medical intervention for the management of Parkinson's disease.

The role of arts therapies in mitigating Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders: a systematic review

Introduction

Arts therapies offer effective non-pharmacological intervention for Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders (SIMDs), encompassing both passive and active modalities. This review assesses their effectiveness and ethical considerations, focusing on music therapy, meditation, and Tai Chi.

Methods

Following PRISMA guidelines, a detailed search across PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and CNKI identified 17 relevant RCTs. Utilizing the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) quality criteria and the PICO(S) framework for data extraction ensured methodological integrity.

Results

Analysis shows arts therapies significantly improve sleep quality. Music therapy and meditation yield immediate benefits, while Tai Chi and Qigong require longer commitment for significant outcomes.

Discussion

The link between SIMDs and mental health issues like anxiety, stress, and depression suggests arts therapies not only enhance sleep quality but also address underlying mental health conditions. The evidence supports a wider adoption of arts therapies in treating SIMDs due to their dual benefits.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO, ID: CRD42024506393.

The effectiveness of physical activity interventions in improving higher education students' mental health: A systematic review

Traditional interventions aiming to improve students' mental health and quality of life include meditation or canine therapy. The development of physical activity-related interventions has increased over the past decade. We aimed to review all studies using physical activity for improving the mental health and quality of life in higher education students whilst describing the interventions, measurements and effectiveness. A systematic search of six electronic databases including: ProQuest, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus and CENTRAL, was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Randomized or non-randomized controlled trial physical activity-related interventions involving higher education students aiming to improve their mental health and quality of life were included. Searches yielded 58 articles with interventions involving martial arts, sport, mind-body exercises and anaerobic exercises. Psychological measures varied across studies including the State Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory and the Perceived Stress Scale. Over half of the studies included in this review (n = 36) were effective in improving students' mental health or quality of life. Findings from our review suggest that interventions aiming to be effective in improving students' mental health quality of life should aim to deliver moderate-vigorous intensity exercises such as dance or Pilates. This systematic review was based on a published protocol in PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42022325975).

Impact of dance interventions on the symptoms of dementia: A mixed-methods systematic review

OBJECTIVES

This mixed-methods systematic review determined the impact of dance interventions on symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) among persons living in residential care.

METHODS

Seven databases (Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Ageline, and AMED) were searched. Studies published before June 2022 that investigated the impact of dance interventions on symptoms of ADRD were eligible for inclusion. Risk of bias was assessed using CASP, ROBINS-I, and ROB-2. Quantitative and qualitative objectives provided a convergent segregate narrative synthesis for the review. The review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021220535).

RESULTS

Two quantitative and two qualitative studies met the inclusion criteria. Dance interventions decreased levels of agitation and aggression, and improved behavioural and psychological symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Studies suggest that dance interventions reduce the symptoms of dementia through increased expression, emotions, and improved relationships for persons with ADRD. However, the small number of included studies limits these conclusions.

Evidence of the Effects of Dance Interventions on Adults Mental Health: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Recent research has shown that dancing takes effect directly in improving mental health, by reducing rates of depression, anxiety, and enhancing the mood aspects in people of any age.

AIM

This systematic review aimed to search for evidence of the effects of dance interventions on adults' mental health.

METHODS

The eligibility criteria of the studies were defined by following the PICOS strategy, considering the population, intervention, comparison, result, and the study design. Only randomized clinical trials, conducted in adults of both sexes, with results related to mental health, including depression and/or anxiety and/or stress and/or mood disorder were considered eligible for this review. The search was conducted using 5 databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect from 2005 to 2020. The Cochrane Collaboration tool was used to assess the risk of bias in randomized clinical trials. The synthesis and presentation of results followed the guidelines of the PRISMA model.

RESULTS

Of 425 selected studies, 10 randomized clinical trials were included in the review with a total of 933 participants between 18 and 62 years old. Studies included Dance Movement Therapy, Latin dance, tango, rumba, waltz, Nogma, quadrille, and Biodanza. The results indicate that regardless of style, adults who participated in dance interventions showed a reduction in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress compared to groups that did not participate in any type of intervention.

DISCUSSION

In general, studies showed an unclear risk of bias in most items assessed. Based on these studies, it is possible to assume that the practice of dance contributes positively to the maintenance or improvement of mental health in adults.

Psychological Interventions to Improve Sleep in Young Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

INTRODUCTION

The effects of impaired sleep on the wellbeing of young adults are profound, and the adverse outcomes for mental health are well documented in the research literature.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify, summarize, and synthesize the available evidence from randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) investigating psychological interventions aimed at improving sleep and related secondary outcomes such as anxiety and depression in healthy young adults.

METHOD

Nine electronic databases (Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials [CENTRAL], PubMed, Scopus, PsycNET, CINHAL, INFORMIT, Web of Science [Science and Social Citation Index], OpenSigle and EMBASE) were searched, returning 54 full-text papers for assessment, with 13 studies meeting inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis.

RESULTS

A random effects meta-analysis showed that the combined effect of all interventions was moderate (ES = -0.53, 95% CIs [- 0.69, -0.36], p < .01), reflecting the efficacy of psychological interventions at improving sleep scores at post-intervention. Subgroup analyses of individual interventions showed that cognitive-behavioral interventions improved sleep (ES = -0.67, 95% CIs [-0.77, -0.57], p < .01) and secondary outcomes for anxiety (ES = -0.35, 95% CIs [-0.56, -0.15], p < .01) and depression (ES = -0.41, 95% CIs [-0.70, -0.13], p < .01) at post-intervention.

CONCLUSION

The results of the current review support the implementation of cognitive and behavioral interventions for sleep among young adults experiencing both sleep and comorbid mental health problems.

Characterization of dance-based protocols used in rehabilitation - A systematic review

Objective

To describe the use of dance-based intervention protocols as a rehabilitation proposal.

Method

Papers containing protocols used in adult patients and written in Spanish, English, and Portuguese were collected using the following keywords: Physical Therapy; Dance Therapy; Rehabilitation; and Clinical Trial Protocol. The PUBMED, MEDLINE, LILACS, BVS ScienceDirect, PEDro, OTseeker, The Cochrane Library (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), and Scopus databases were used for the collection of information to define the type of dance, the established protocol, pathologies, and the population involved.

Results

70 studies met the eligibility criteria, all of which presented a dance protocol. This was used in the rehabilitation of pathologies covering the neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular systems, as well as in a healthy population. Positive results were the main outcome measure.

Discussion

Dance is an innovative intervention strategy for patients with comorbidities or underlying pathologies as well as for those in good health. It offers, without limitations, a field of applicability through the use of a dancing style as a rehabilitation process, generating significant changes in the physical, mental, and social skills of the individual.

Diversification of Physical Activities: An Exploration of Provision Characteristics of Holistic Movement Practices in a Large Australian City

Holistic movement practices (HMPs) are an emerging category of physical activity, contributing to the diversification of physical activity opportunities. Purposefully incorporating not only physical but also mental, social, and/or spiritual elements, HMPs have received limited research attention with respect to participation parameters. The purpose of this study was to begin to map HMPs' participation potential by exploring the provision features of HMPs in Melbourne. Data were collected via internet searches, with a focus on events offered. Event features, including type, cost, duration, venue address, and target groups, were recorded. Associated neighbourhood characteristics were also explored by linking venue locations to selected census information. Provision was documented for Yoga and Pilates in central Melbourne (1011 events), for Tai Chi and Qigong (323 events), and for a range of smaller HMPs (149 events) across Greater Melbourne. Results indicated a wide range in provision features. Affinities with the holistic nature of HMPs were noticeable in venue choices and neighbourhood socio-demographics. Mention of specific target groups was infrequent. Results are discussed in light of implications for uptake. HMPs exemplify the increasing diversity of physical activity opportunities in modern-day societies. Further research to elucidate their place in the landscape of physical activities is warranted.

A Short, Multimodal Activity Break Incorporated Into the Learning Context During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Effects of Physical Activity and Positive Expressive Writing on University Students' Mental Health-Results and Recommendations From a Pilot Study

Physical inactivity, sedentary behavior and mental ill health, due to high levels of perceived stress or self-reported depressive symptoms, are highly prevalent among university students. There are concerns that these behaviors and mental symptoms have significantly increased during the current Covid-19 pandemic, partly because academic life has changed considerably from face-to-face communication to e-learning and studying at home. Self-regulation and physical activity are hard to maintain during pandemic lockdowns. Short activity breaks could be helpful to avoid physical inactivity and sustain mental health. The breaks should comprise short and easy-implementable physical activity exercises that can be integrated into the learning context. Moreover, cognitive interventions, such as writing about positive events and feelings might help as coping strategy for self-regulation during study breaks. This study investigated and compared the effects of a physical activity intervention and a cognitive intervention (positive expressive writing) on mental health among university students. Both interventions are particularly suitable for use at home. N = 20 university students, studying in Germany, were assigned to a physical activity group or a cognitive intervention group. The physical activity intervention consisted of a mix of physical exercises including endurance exercises, muscular strength, relaxation, and ballroom dance movements. The interventions were carried out guided, once a week, for 5–10 mins at the beginning of classes. The effects of group × time showed no significant interaction on self-reported perceived stress, mood, quality of life (QoL) assessed online and compared at the beginning of the term before the intervention (T0) and at the end of the term after the intervention (T3). However, the physical activity group reported a similar physical activity level per day over time, while the cognitive intervention group showed a decrease in physical activity from T0 to T3. Low-dose, short physical activity interventions as well as cognitive interventions consisting of positive expressive writing could buffer university students' perceived stress, mood, and QoL across the term. Moreover, both interventions seem to be promising in buffering the negative side effects of stress during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The effect of dancing interventions on depression symptoms, anxiety, and stress in adults without musculoskeletal disorders: An integrative review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effect of dancing interventions on depression symptoms, anxiety, and stress in adults with and without musculoskeletal disorders, and to determine the duration of the effectiveness of a dancing intervention.

METHODS

Five electronic databases, CINAHL, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and PsycINFO were searched from January 2010 to March 2021. Data were extracted for a quality synthesis and meta-analysis, and GRADEpro software was used to rate the quality of evidence.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight randomized controlled trials involving 2249 eligible subjects were selected. They were found to be of satisfactory quality (fair n = 12, good n = 16). These studies revealed that dance interventions had a significant effect on relieving depression symptoms (SMD = -0.69, 95 % CI -0.91 to -0.35, p < 0.001), anxiety (SMD = -0.99, 95 % CI = -1.92 to -0.05, p < 0.05), and stress (SMD = -1.0, 95 % CI = -1.83 to -0.17, p < 0.05). Exposure to a dancing intervention for at least 150 min per week was found to have reduced depression symptoms (SMD = -0.72, 95 % CI -0.20, -0.25, p < 0.01). The quality of evidence ranged from very low to low.

CONCLUSIONS

This review indicates that dancing interventions significantly reduce depression symptoms, stress, and anxiety; and adults with or without musculoskeletal disorders would benefit from engaging in a dancing intervention for at least 150 min per week. Dancing interventions are recommended to be incorporated in health promotion activities to promote psychological wellbeing.

Conscious dance: Perceived benefits and psychological well-being of participants

BACKGROUND

Meta-analyses suggest that dance has potential to decrease psychological distress, increase trait mindfulness, and enhance quality of life. Conscious dance can be defined as unchoreographed, intentionally nonevaluative mindful movement commonly practiced in a group setting for purposes of authentic self-expression, self-discovery, interpersonal connectedness, and personal healing or growth.

OBJECTIVE

To assess perceived effects of conscious dance practice (e.g., Ecstatic Dance, 5Rhythms) and examine associations between frequency/duration of practice and psychological well-being among participants.

METHODS

Self-identifying adult conscious dancers completed a survey (N = 1003; mean age = 47 years; 52% from the U.S; 78% White; 73% female).

RESULTS

Conscious dancers with ≥5 years of practice had significantly higher trait mindfulness and life satisfaction compared to newer practitioners. More frequent practice (≥once per week) was associated with higher trait mindfulness. A strong majority of participants endorsed experiences consistent with mindfulness (i.e., feeling "more present in my body"; 99% of the sample) and psychological flow ("I felt like I was 'in the zone' or 'in the flow' of things"; 93% of the sample) during conscious dance. Among participants endorsing any of five stress-related health conditions, the majority reported therapeutic effects (i.e., that conscious dance "helped them cope" with the condition). Therapeutic effects were most consistently reported by individuals with depression or anxiety (96% endorsement), followed by those with a trauma history (95%), chronic pain (89%), and history of substance abuse or addiction (88%). For all conditions except addiction, therapeutic effects were associated with greater experiences of psychological flow during dance, and the magnitude of these effects was large (Cohen's d range: 1.0-2.3).

CONCLUSION

Individuals who engage in conscious dance report that these practices help them to cope with stress-related health conditions. Participants reporting longer duration or greater frequency of practice scored higher on measures of psychological well-being. The feasibility and efficacy of conscious dance for improving well-being among individuals naïve to these approaches will be important to determine in future research.

Analysis of the intervention effect and self-satisfaction of sports dance exercise on the psychological stress of college students

BACKGROUND

College students are a high-risk subpopulation of psychological disorders. The problem of various adverse phenomena and consequences caused by excessive pressure on college students has gradually become the focus of social and psychological academic circles. However, studies related to individual self-concept and psychological pressure are rare.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the impact of sports dance exercises on college students' psychological pressure and improve the psychological effects of their self-satisfaction.

METHODS

College students were taken as research objects, randomly divided into a control group and an observation group. The observation group is intervened with sports dance exercises. The observation group was intervened with sports dance exercises. The stress response characteristic questionnaire and multidimensional self-satisfaction rating scale were utilized to measure college students' conditions before and after the intervention. Finally, the obtained data were statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

Generally, the psychological stress response of college students was mild, with self-satisfaction and various dimensions at a moderately higher level. No significant differences were discovered in the psychological stress response and self-satisfaction level between the control group and the observation group before intervention (P > 0.05), which were homogeneous. Compared with the data obtained before the intervention, after the intervention, the control group scores were slightly reduced in all dimensions of the psychological stress response and self-satisfaction. In contrast, the scores were significantly increased in the experimental group (P < 0.05). Psychological stress response could reliably explain 30.4%of the total self-satisfaction variance (P < 0.01). The negative self-evaluation was the most important variable affecting self-satisfaction, followed by poor interpersonal communication and poor sleeping quality.

CONCLUSIONS

Sports dance exercises could alleviate the psychological stress of college students and improve their self-satisfaction. Colleges and universities should include sports dance in the content of optional public courses and encourage more college students to actively participate in sports dance exercises to improve their mental health.

The emotional dance with depression: A longitudinal investigation of OULA® for depression in women

The primary purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate OULA®, a dance fitness program with a strong emphasis on processing emotions through dance, as an intervention for depression in women diagnosed with major or persistent depressive disorders. 53 women were eligible for participation. Women attended OULA® for 12 weeks and then abstained from OULA® during week 13. For the primary outcome, depression severity was measured using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), and secondary outcomes were measured using the Beck Anxiety Index (BAI) and the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS). After the abstinence week, women were offered 3-months of optional additional OULA®. HAM-D, BAI and SHS scores were collected at weeks 2, 4, 5-14 and at the end of the 3-month optional OULA® phase. Results from linear mixed effects repeated models show that during the 12-week intervention period and at week 26, HAM-D scores significantly decrease each week compared to baseline. Further, BAI scores significantly decrease starting at week 5 and through the end of the intervention period and at week 26. Moreover, SHS scores increased significantly for four of the weeks during the intervention period and at week 26. The results from this study suggest that OULA® may be a useful intervention for decreasing depression and anxiety severity in women with depression but may not be helpful for improving subjective happiness.

Is resourcefulness as a mediator between perceived stress and depression among old Chinese stroke patients?

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore whether resourcefulness can serve as a mediator between perceived stress and depression among old Chinese stroke patients.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in six hospitals during July 2016 to July 2017, from five cities of Henan Province, China. A demographic questionnaire, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Resourcefulness Scale (RS) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) were distributed among 3000 old stroke patients, and 2907 of them completed this survey. Correlation analysis, multiple linear regression and structural equation model (SEM) were used for statistical analysis of the study.

RESULTS

The total scores of the resourcefulness were negatively correlated with perceived stress (r= -0.795, P<0.01) and depression (r= -0.772, P<0.01); It indicated positive correlation of the total scores of perceived stress and depression (r = 0.820, P<0.01). Multiple regression analyses showed that resourcefulness mediated the relationship between perceived stress and depression, which reduced the effect of perceived stress on depression by 16.3% (from 0.464 to 0.301) on the subscale "sense of being out of control" and by 20.3% (from 0.411 to 0.208) on the subscale "feeling of tension" when resourcefulness was included in the model. Structural equation model validated these findings, and further confirmed that resourcefulness had a partial mediation effect (39.4% of total effect) between perceived stress and depression.

LIMITATIONS

This cross-sectional study does not allow for examination of the relationship between pre-stroke resourcefulness and post-stroke depression, or the potential intervening role of perceived stress.

CONCLUSION

Resourcefulness was found to be a mediator between perceived stress and depression, suggesting the potential benefit of an intervention to teach resourcefulness skills to decrease depression in highly stressed older Chinese stroke patients.

The effect of willpower workshop on anxiety, depression, and the excitement components in the students of Shiraz university of medical sciences

Introduction and Aim:

The current study aimed at evaluating the effect of willpower workshop on anxiety, depression, and the Granovsky excitement components among the students of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in the academic year 2016--2017.

Materials and Methods:

Students (140) were selected by the simple random sampling method and allocated into two equal groups of intervention (willing) and control, each of 52 individuals. Data collection instruments were the Garnefski cognitive emotion regulation scale and the Beck depression and anxiety inventories. The data were collected twice, before intervention and after the intervention (9 months after the study completion and holding the workshops). The control subjects received no intervention but were interviewed every 3 months.

Results:

The results of the current study indicated no significant differences in demographic variables and pretest scores between the groups, which indicate the homogeneity of the groups. In other words, there were no significant differences between the groups regarding demographic characteristics before the intervention (P > 0.05). In addition, to compare the intervention and control groups, the Mann--Whitney U test was used and the results showed a significant difference in posttest results between the study groups (P < 0.05). Also, there was a significant difference between the pretest and posttest results of each group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Results of the current study indicated that training the stress, coping and willpower strengthening skills, based on the Granovsky excitement components, could promote psychophysical health and reduce anxiety and stress among the studied students.

Interventions for common mental health problems among university and college students: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Common mental health problems (CMHPs), such as depression, anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are internalizing disorders with high comorbidity. University and college students are under many stressors and transitional events, and students fall within the age range when CMHPs are at their developmental peak. Compared to the expanded effort to explore and treat CMHPs, there has been no a meta-analysis that comprehensively reviewed the interventions for CMHPs and examined the effects of interventions for CMHPs in college students. The objective of this review is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining interventions for CMHPs among university and college students and to estimate their post-intervention effect size (ES), as well as follow-up ES, for depression, anxiety disorder, OCD and PTSD separately. Meta-analytic procedures were conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. We reviewed 7768 abstracts from which 331 full-text articles were reviewed and 51 RCTs were included in the analysis. We found moderate effect sizes for both depression (Hedges' g = -0.60) and anxiety disorder (Hedges' g = -0.48). There was no evidence that existing interventions for OCD or PTSD were effective in this population. For interventions with high number of papers, we performed subgroup analysis and found that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based interventions were effective for both depression and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and attention/perception modification was effective for GAD; other interventions (i.e. art, exercise and peer support) had the highest ES for both depression and GAD among university and college students.

An Internet-based survey of the dance fitness program OULA

Background:

OULA is a high-energy dance workout to top 40 hits that is inspired by yoga and non-impact aerobics. Created in Missoula, Montana, the program has been gaining national and international popularity. To understand the demographic composition, reasons for attending OULA, and experiences with depression/anxiety, we conducted an Internet-based survey.

Methods:

A pilot descriptive cross-sectional Internet-based survey was created in Qualtrics and distributed through social media and flyers.

Results:

The 38-item survey received responses from 302 participants. Current OULA participants chose “exercise” as the primary reason for attending (40.2%, 95% confidence interval: 33.3–48.2), followed by “stress relief/improve mood” (28.8%, 95% confidence interval: 23.0–35.6). Participants listed “stress relief/improve mood” as the most common secondary (35.6%, 95% confidence interval: 29.0–43.2) and tertiary (38.6%, 95% confidence interval: 31.7–46.7) reason for attending OULA. A majority of the participants said that OULA makes them feel like part of a community (93.2%, 95% confidence interval: 82.5–105.1) and increases their energy outside of class (80.1%, 95% confidence interval: 70.2–91.1). In our sample, 12.5% (95% confidence interval: 8.8–17.1) and 9.0% (95% confidence interval: 5.9–12.9) were currently taking antidepressants and anxiolytics, respectively.

Conclusion:

These results suggest that current OULA participants are already using the program to relieve stress or improve mood. Further research should be conducted to understand the relationship between OULA and depression/anxiety.