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.