Could salsa dancing help young adults experiencing depressive symptoms feel better?
A new randomised controlled trial led by researchers at the Department of Psychiatry and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust suggests it may offer a promising, accessible addition to youth wellbeing support.
The study, part funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (BRC): Oxford Health Pump Priming Grant, tested an eight-week salsa dance programme for 18- to 24-year-olds with mild to moderately severe depressive symptoms. A total of 121 participants were recruited and randomly assigned either to the salsa classes or to a waitlist control group, with mental health measures completed before, during and after the programme. The findings were published in the journal Psychological Medicine.
Participants who took part in salsa showed a significantly greater reduction in depressive symptoms than those on the waitlist. By the final assessment, the difference between groups was equivalent to a 2.45-point change on the PHQ-9 depression scale, exceeding the threshold considered clinically meaningful. The salsa group also reported greater reductions in social anxiety and a steeper increase in daily happiness.
Read the full news story on the Department of Psychiatry website