Non Fiction post #2 Dance on depression

           The article “Dance Intervention Improves Self-Rated Health of Girls With Internalizing Problems” documents the finding the use of dance as a type of therapy on112 girls (age 13-18) in Sweden struggling with depression and other psychological stress.  Since exercise is known to raise spirits and help cope with depression, 59 girls of the group suffering from pains, headaches and increased tiredness were sent to participate in dance classes twice a week for eight months. The other 53 were assigned to the control group. The main results were that the group participating in the dance class had a higher improved Self Rated Health. According to the authors, the girls showed “high adherence and positive experience,” (Duberg, 1).

            The author wants the reader to understand that dance can result in positive experiences for young girls, and the use of more healthy lifestyles. The authors make this clear by repeating this sentence more than once in throughout the article. They also use words such as "The key finding” and “high adherence,” showing that they truly believe dance is an effective method to beat psychological problems.

I found it interesting how Ann Duberg and her colleagues from the Centre for Health Care Sciences, Örebro County Council and Örebro University, Sweden went about doing the experiment. The fact that they were interested in dance instead more conventional treatment like medication or psycho therapy for treating girls who were suffering from depression or anxiety was intriguing. Further, I was impressed and please to find that dance was more effective than the control group without. It is reassuring to know that letting off steam and expressing your emotions through dance can be helpful for suffering teens. 

I always get mad when people tell me, “dance isn’t a sport.” In my book, something that burns calories, exercises both sides of your body, keeps you in shape and is a way to express your emotions is a sport. Now that we some evidence that dance is a possible method to help adolescent girls through stress related problems, are we going to use this method more and more? I know for a fact that after I dance I feel a whole lot more relaxed. Also, although not as many boys would be interested in this program would it work for them? Either way, it is always good to know about more ways to help teens.

Bibliography:

. "Scienec Daily." Science News. November 12, 2012. . February 12, 2012 <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121112171319.htm>.