Study Guide on the Influence of Sports Modern Dance on Psychological Health of College Students

Summary of Research on the Influence of Sports Modern Dance on Psychological Health of College Students

Abstract

  • Purpose: Investigate the impact of modern sports dance on college students' mental health.

  • Participants: 200 non-sports major students from one school (no sports dance offered).

    • 100 students from another college took sports dance courses (experimental group).

    • 100 students from a school that had never offered sports dance as a control group.

  • Duration: Three-month study with measurements of mental health self-assessment scales before and after experimentation.

Key Findings:

  1. Sports dance promotes mental health of college students.

  2. Improves physiological condition of students.

  3. Enhances interpersonal skills.

  4. Effectively resists psychological barriers.

  5. Suggests implementing sports dance education to promote psychological health in students.

Introduction

  • Increasing concern over physical and mental health of college students.

    • Importance of physical education in improving fitness, health awareness, and exercise habits (Bailey, 2006; Winnick & Porretta, 2016).

  • Psychological pressures faced by students can lead to mental health issues, essential for academic and personal success (Hunt & Eisenberg, 2010; Odriozola-González et al., 2020).

    • Recent data indicates 10%-30% of students exhibit psychological health problems (sensitivity, depression, anxiety).

Role of Sports Dance in Mental Health:

  • Sports dance combines competitive sports and artistic performance; includes various forms (modern dance, Latin dance) blending movement with music and fashion.

  • Unique qualities of sports dance make it effective for psychological health interventions (Zheng, Liu, & Liu, 2021).

Literature Review

  • Social demand for talent and changing educational models impose psychological burdens on students.

  • Transition to university signifies increased pressures for independence and social interactions; often leads to social and emotional challenges.

  • Psychological Characteristics of Female Students:

    • Increased anxiety, difficulty in interpersonal relationships, romantic frustrations.

  • Previous studies have highlighted a lack of intervention combining exercise (like sports dance) for mental health.

Research Framework Development

Sports Psychology Importance:

  • Focus on mental health connected to exercise; prevention of mental diseases through various forms (Fernández-Bustos et al., 2019; Gill et al., 2017).

  • Aerobic exercise, particularly sports dance, positively influences anxiety and depression (Lindwall et al., 2012).

Definition of Mental Health:

  • WHO defines mental health as more than absence of illness; includes social adaptation and psychological potential (Auerbach et al., 2016).

Research Methods

Research Subjects

  • Participants: 200 students, all between ages 18-22, with 90 males and 110 females.

    • Divided into experimental (100 students in sports dance) and control group (100 not in dance).

Scale Introduction

  • Mental Health Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90):

    • Widely used assessment tool encompassing 50 items across various psychological aspects.

    • Scoring involves 5-point scale with a critical score of 150 for mental health indicating potential psychological issues.

Experimental Process

Stages of Experiment:

  1. Pre-test Stage:

    • Conducted in February 2022; assessed mental health using SCL-90 before treatment.

  2. Intervention Stage:

    • Three-month period from March to June 2022; activities included:

    1. Introduction to dance courses and training (24 hours total).

    2. Theoretical lessons and practical teaching methods.

  3. Post-test Stage:

    • Reevaluation in July 2022: mental health self-assessment conducted again.

Research Results

Psychological Health Status Before Experiment

  • 74% of students scored <150; indicating a concerning level of mental health.

Comparison Results Pre-Experiment

  • No significant differences in mental health scores between experimental and control groups.

Psychological Health Status After Experiment:

  • 94% of total participants scored <150, suggesting improved mental health.

  • Significant differences noted in psychological health scores between experimental and control groups indicating the positive impact of sports dance.

Specific Factors of Improvement Post-Experiment:

  • Somatization, Interpersonal Sensitivity, Depression, Anxiety, Hostility: Scores significantly lower in experimental group showing sports dance's effectiveness in these areas.

Discussion and Implications

1. Sports Dance and Physiological Improvement:

  • Sports dance leads to increased metabolic rates, improved cardiovascular conditions, and general health improvements.

  • Engaging in sports dance encourages physical fitness and counteracts symptoms like headaches and sleep issues.

2. Enhancement of Interpersonal Skills:

  • Improved social interactions and communication abilities, vital for overall mental health and collective living experience in college life.

3. Resisting Psychological Barriers:

  • Sports dance is associated with substantial psychological stress relief; alleviation of anxiety and depression symptoms.

Recommendations for Educational Institutions:

  • Incorporation of sports dance into curricula as a holistic approach to mental health.

  • Cooperation between universities and dance studios or fitness centers.

References

  • The list of references included multiple studies focusing on the intersection of sport, psychology, and mental health.