Abstract
Previous studies indicate that mindfulness interventions and physical activities can produce positive effects on mood disorders; such activities may be options for individuals who search for non-traditional therapies, or whenever mainstream psychological treatments are not effective. We explored the effects of tango dance, meditation, and exercise (circuit training) in individuals with self-reported depression. Participants were randomly placed into meditation, exercise, tango dance, or control-wait-list groups. Sixty-four participants completed the 8-week program and were assessed before, after, and at 1-month follow-up. The dependent variables were depression, anxiety, stress, fatigue, and insomnia (symptoms measures), and self-efficacy, satisfaction with life, and mindfulness (positive psychology measures). Treatment scores were compared with the control group scores. The meditation group showed benefits at follow-up for depression, stress, and satisfaction with life. The exercise group showed decreased depression and increased self-efficacy at post-test, but only self-efficacy was persistent at follow-up, whereas stress was just significant at follow-up. The tango group showed decreased depression and insomnia and increased satisfaction with life and mindfulness at post-test. All, except for satisfaction with life, were persistent at follow-up, while stress and anxiety improved only at follow-up. As expected, the control group maintained similar scores across pre-test and post-test, and at follow-up. Tango dance was shown to induce a broader and more persistent range of benefits. Meditation produced lasting benefits only when well-learned and practiced, whereas exercise generated rapid benefits, but, except for self-efficacy, temporary. Such differences may provide valuable information when promoting these activities to best match the individual needs within this population.
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11 December 2019
There were some errors presented in Table��2 in the original article. Values have been corrected in the version of Table��2 presented here.
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Acknowledgments
We are indebted to Jacqueline Simpson (tango instructor) and Anthony Miller (assistant instructor), Tom Jones (clinical psychologist and meditation instructor), and John Dowse (exercise instructor) for their time and dedication in preparing and carrying out the program. We also wish to thank the tango team, including Annabella Chang, Nga Nguyen, David Owen, Elcira Ratero, Paula Schooge, and Jean Weiner, for their time and professionalism in assisting as leaders at the tango classes; as well as Pedro Colombi (Argentinean Consul, Sydney, Australia) for his support in this project; “The Kirk” (venue at Surry Hills, Sydney) for providing an ideal space to conduct the program; and all the participants whose commitment made the study possible and established grounds for future research.
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Pinniger, R., Thorsteinsson, E.B., Brown, R.F. et al. Tango Dance Can Reduce Distress and Insomnia in People with Self-Referred Affective Symptoms. Am J Dance Ther 35, 60–77 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10465-012-9141-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10465-012-9141-y