Effects of dance on physical and mental health and cognitive factors in adolescents and young adults - a systematic review of available online publications

This review aims to explore the benefits and impacts of dance among adolescents and young adults. It summarizes the components of the dance interventions conducted, the health determinants assessed, and the measurement tools used to assess them. The effects of dance are explored in terms of holistic health dimensions and its effects on cognitive abilities are also examined. A structured search strategy was developed and conducted in Scopus, Science Direct, Ebsco, Web of Science and Sage databases. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) framework guided the selection of studies. Studies were selected from peer-reviewed, English-language studies published in the last 10 years and available online. The main findings of the review show that dance is a viable alternative to traditional physical activity. There is evidence that it produces changes in all holistic dimensions of health, but its impact on mental capacity is very poorly studied. The results also suggest that there are mainly physical, emotional and social benefits from dance activities, which may provide a basis for further integration into physical education.