The Impact of Dance Movement Therapy on Subjective Well-Being and Quality of Life in Healthy Older Adults

Abstract

Undertaking physical and social activities such as dance and music have positive effects on the mental well-being, cognitive and physical abilities of older people. Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) is a complementary practice that uses dance and movement to stimulate creativity, enabling individuals to engage in positive interpersonal connections within a group. Therapeutic approaches involving DMT have been proven to promote positive mental health outcomes in various patient groups. This study aimed to evaluate the possible efficacy of DMT on the subjective perceptions of quality of life, satisfaction with life, and personal well-being of a sample of healthy adults aged over 65. Participants (n=25; females=17) took part in an 8-week DMT cycle on a once-weekly basis. The DMT cycle was preceded and followed by a one-hour session during which participants filled out the World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment (WHOQoL-BRIEF), the Satisfaction With LifeScale (SWLS), and the Wellbeing Index (PWI) scale. Comparison of pre- and post-DMT scores by repeated measures ANalysis Of VAriance (rmANOVA) showed a positive effect of DMT, especially in terms of overall quality of life and social relationships. Participants in the over-70s age group who showed significantly lower scores than their younger counterparts in terms of overall quality of life, Social subscale, and PWI, exhibited analogous DMT-related changes. Our findings suggest that DMT has the potential to foster a shared positive state of mind among older individuals, thereby facilitating social interaction not only among the elderly population but also among its most senior members.