Effects of Dance-Movement Therapy Program on Stress, Anxiety and Depression Reduction of Middle Aged Women

Abstract

Study objects : The purpose of this study is to develop dance-movement therapy and measure its effect on stress, anxiety and depression in middle-aged women. Methods : Nineteen subjects were recruited, of whom 17 completed 6 sessions of dance-movement program:one and a half hours per session, once a week for 6 weeks. Data were collected using self-administered structured questionnaires including general characteristics, Psychological Well-being Index Short Form(PWI-SF), State Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI), and Beck Depression Inventory(BDI). In addition, self -descriptive reports of feeing were also collected from each subject. SPSS 12.0 was used for data analysis and Paired T-tests were applied. Results : Statistically significant reductions were found in stress(p=0.01), anxiety(p=0.029) and depression (p=0.047). Participants also reported positive affection during the program. Conclusion : Dance-movement therapy can improve the feelings and affects of participants. Further development of systematically well-designed program and the investigation of its effect are suggested. .