title: Depression, Social Isolation, and the Lived Experience of Dancing in Disadvantaged Adults.
abstract: This qualitative study described the lived experience of dancing as it related to depression and social isolation in 16 disadvantaged adults who completed a 12-week dance intervention. It is the first qualitative study to explore the experience of dance as an adjunct therapy, depression, and social isolation. A descriptive phenomenological framework consisted of two focus groups using semi-structured interviews. A Giorgian approach guided thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: (1) dance for myself and health, (2) social acceptance, (3) connection with others: a group, and (4) not wanting to stop: unexpected benefits from dancing. As the participants continued to dance, they developed a sense of belonging and group identity, which may have maintained group involvement and contributed to reducing depression and social isolation. Thus, dancing is a complementary therapy that should be considered when working with adults with depression and social isolation.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of Akron, Akron, OH. Electronic address: cjm4@uakron.edu.
authors.forename: Carolyn J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Murrock
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of Akron, Akron, OH. Electronic address: graor@uakron.edu.
authors.forename: Christine Heifner
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Graor
mesh_terms: D003615:Dancing / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology*; D035862:Vulnerable Populations