Greek Traditional Dance as a Culturally Integrated Intervention: Effects on the Psycho-Emotional Well-Being of Paediatric Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed an unprecedented psychological and emotional burden on paediatric nurses, who have faced increased workload, increased stress, and burnout. Developing strategies to strengthen the mental resilience and well-being of healthcare professionals has become imperative. Dance, specifically Greek traditional dance (GTD), is a culturally embedded activity with proven benefits on physical, psychological, and social health. AIM: This study aimed to assess the impact of a GTD training program on the psycho-emotional well-being of paediatric nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was conducted with a sample of 199 volunteer paediatric nurses, employed in the largest paediatric hospital in Athens, Greece. The participants were divided into an intervention group (Group A) (n=89; 44.7%), who attended 16 training sessions (two sessions per week for two months, lasting 45 minutes each), and a control group (Group B) (n=110; 55.3%), without intervention. Psycho-emotional status was assessed before and after the intervention using the following tools: Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), Psychological Well-Being Scales-Short Scales (PWBS), Life Satisfaction Scale (SWLS), and Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R). Data analysis was performed with IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States), using Cronbach's alpha for reliability, t-test, ANOVA, and non-parametric correlations. RESULTS: Most participants were women (96% in Group A and 92% in Group B). After completing the program, nurses in the traditional dance group showed significantly greater improvements in positive affect compared to the control group (M±SD=3.89±0.45) and a decrease in negative emotions (M±SD=1.65±0.47) compared to Group B (M±SD=1.94±0.63). At the same time, improvements were recorded in life satisfaction (M±SD=5.30±0.89), optimism (M±SD=3.02±0.72), and relaxation (M±SD=2.48±0.91). The greatest benefits were found in nurses working in wards with paediatric patients positive for COVID-19, who showed an improvement in both positive emotions and a reduction in negative ones, as well as in indicators of friendship and life satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Participation in a standardized eight-week GTD program improved the psycho-emotional well-being of paediatric nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results highlight the value of culturally relevant, group-based interventions in promoting the resilience and quality of life of healthcare professionals.