Pinniger, Rosa

Thorsteinsson, Einar B

Brown, Rhonda

McKinley, Patricia

2013

Recent research shows that tango dance may be an effective strategy for influencing symptoms that contribute to mood disorders. In this study, we examined the efficacy of a short-duration intensive tango program (ie, 2 weeks). Forty-one participants were randomized to tango dance (1½ hours, 4 times/week for 2 weeks) or to a wait-list control condition. Self-rated symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia, self-efficacy, satisfaction with life and mindfulness were assessed at pretest, posttest, and 1 month later. Tango group participants showed significant reductions in depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia at posttest relative to the controls, whereas satisfaction with life and self-efficacy were significantly increased. At 1-month follow-up, depression, anxiety, and stress levels remained reduced relative to the wait-list controls. Thus, this brief but intensive program of tango dance was shown to be an effective strategy in alleviating mood disorders in people who self-report these symptoms.

Music and Medicine, 5(1), p. 15-22

1943-863X

1943-8621

https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/12964

en

Sage Publications, Inc

Intensive Tango Dance Program for People With Self-Referred Affective Symptoms

Journal Article

Publication