Effects of a hip-hop dance intervention on psychological and cognitive measures for adolescent females

Dance has been purported as one way to engage adolescent females in more physical activity. However, understanding levels of physical activity require a whole child perspective of females within dance programs. This study aimed to examine the relationships and changes of cognitive and psychological measures of adolescent females engaged in an eight-week, after-school hip-hop dance intervention. Supported by self-determination theory, 23 participants (aged 11–14, M = 12.47) in a single school district in the southeastern United States were recruited and completed the intervention. Participants were measured on self-esteem, social physique anxiety, mindfulness, and psychological needs thwarting in the sports context in a quasi-experimental, quantitative research design at both pre- and post-intervention. Significant changes and comparisons were completed using t-tests, ANOVA, Bonferroni post-hoc comparisons, correlations, and regression analysis. Although no significant difference existed in pre- and post-test scores, findings did indicate significant differences when examined by age, race, and body mass index. Additionally, results indicated a statistical significance among the test measures to psychological need thwarting. Findings are discussed from the lens of self-determination theory and suggest an important connection among cognitive and psychological needs among adolescent females engaged in dance class.