Effects of a 16-week dance intervention on loneliness and self-esteem in left behind children: a randomised controlled trial
Abstract Loneliness and low self-esteem are among the more prominent mental health problems among left-behind children, but most of the current research stays in cross-sectional surveys, with fewer studies proposing specific solutions. In addition, although the effective impact of dance intervention...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87954-0 |
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| author | Xiaolin Li Qian Yang Jiayi Long Linghui Zhou Chunxia Lu Zhenqian Zhou Ming Zeng Weixin Dong |
| author_facet | Xiaolin Li Qian Yang Jiayi Long Linghui Zhou Chunxia Lu Zhenqian Zhou Ming Zeng Weixin Dong |
| author_sort | Xiaolin Li |
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| description | Abstract Loneliness and low self-esteem are among the more prominent mental health problems among left-behind children, but most of the current research stays in cross-sectional surveys, with fewer studies proposing specific solutions. In addition, although the effective impact of dance interventions on loneliness and self-esteem has been demonstrated, the impact in the group of left-behind children remains under-explored. Therefore, this study validated the effectiveness of a dance intervention on loneliness and self-esteem in left-behind children through a 16-week randomised controlled trial. Stratified sampling was used to select one primary school from each of the 14 cities in Hunan Province, with a maximum of 100 children recruited from each primary school. Independent researchers used SPSS 29.0 to randomly assign the eligible 1270 participants to the Experimental group (n = 635) and Control group (n = 635) in a 1:1 ratio. The Experimental group performed 45 min of moderate-intensity dance training five times a week. The Control group maintained their original living conditions. Participants were measured three times using the Children’s Loneliness Scale and Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale: baseline (T0), after 8 weeks (T1), and post-intervention (16 weeks, T2). Linear mixed-effects models for repeated measures were used to test the effects of time, group and time × group interactions. (a) The average age of the 1261 participants was 10 years (SD = 3.52), with high levels of loneliness (42.48 ± 12.04) and low levels of self-esteem (26.75 ± 6.39). (b) There was a significant negative correlation between loneliness and self-esteem among the LBC (p < 0.001, r = − 0.390). (c) After the dance intervention, the LBC’s loneliness significantly decreased [F (2, 1258) = 74.516, η p 2 = 0.106, p < 0.001] and their self-esteem significantly increased [F (2, 1258) = 73.64, η p 2 = 0.104, p < 0.001]. A 16-week dance intervention is an effective strategy to improve loneliness and self-esteem in LBC. Given the acceptability and practicality of the dance intervention, it could be included in a health programme to improve loneliness and self-esteem in LBC. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-633c294389494125bde16bc2bccaad05 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-633c294389494125bde16bc2bccaad052025-01-26T12:27:05ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-87954-0Effects of a 16-week dance intervention on loneliness and self-esteem in left behind children: a randomised controlled trialXiaolin Li0Qian Yang1Jiayi Long2Linghui Zhou3Chunxia Lu4Zhenqian Zhou5Ming Zeng6Weixin Dong7Department of Human Movement Science, Hunan Normal UniversityDepartment of Human Movement Science, Hunan Normal UniversityDepartment of Human Movement Science, Hunan Normal UniversityDepartment of Human Movement Science, Hunan Normal UniversityDepartment of Human Movement Science, Hunan Normal UniversityDepartment of Physical Education, Hunan Agricultural UniversityDepartment of Sport Psychology, Hunan International Economics UniversityDepartment of Human Movement Science, Hunan Normal UniversityAbstract Loneliness and low self-esteem are among the more prominent mental health problems among left-behind children, but most of the current research stays in cross-sectional surveys, with fewer studies proposing specific solutions. In addition, although the effective impact of dance interventions on loneliness and self-esteem has been demonstrated, the impact in the group of left-behind children remains under-explored. Therefore, this study validated the effectiveness of a dance intervention on loneliness and self-esteem in left-behind children through a 16-week randomised controlled trial. Stratified sampling was used to select one primary school from each of the 14 cities in Hunan Province, with a maximum of 100 children recruited from each primary school. Independent researchers used SPSS 29.0 to randomly assign the eligible 1270 participants to the Experimental group (n = 635) and Control group (n = 635) in a 1:1 ratio. The Experimental group performed 45 min of moderate-intensity dance training five times a week. The Control group maintained their original living conditions. Participants were measured three times using the Children’s Loneliness Scale and Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale: baseline (T0), after 8 weeks (T1), and post-intervention (16 weeks, T2). Linear mixed-effects models for repeated measures were used to test the effects of time, group and time × group interactions. (a) The average age of the 1261 participants was 10 years (SD = 3.52), with high levels of loneliness (42.48 ± 12.04) and low levels of self-esteem (26.75 ± 6.39). (b) There was a significant negative correlation between loneliness and self-esteem among the LBC (p < 0.001, r = − 0.390). (c) After the dance intervention, the LBC’s loneliness significantly decreased [F (2, 1258) = 74.516, η p 2 = 0.106, p < 0.001] and their self-esteem significantly increased [F (2, 1258) = 73.64, η p 2 = 0.104, p < 0.001]. A 16-week dance intervention is an effective strategy to improve loneliness and self-esteem in LBC. Given the acceptability and practicality of the dance intervention, it could be included in a health programme to improve loneliness and self-esteem in LBC.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87954-0Dance interventionalLeft-behind childrenLonelinessSelf-esteem |
| spellingShingle | Xiaolin Li Qian Yang Jiayi Long Linghui Zhou Chunxia Lu Zhenqian Zhou Ming Zeng Weixin Dong Effects of a 16-week dance intervention on loneliness and self-esteem in left behind children: a randomised controlled trial Scientific Reports Dance interventional Left-behind children Loneliness Self-esteem |
| title | Effects of a 16-week dance intervention on loneliness and self-esteem in left behind children: a randomised controlled trial |
| title_full | Effects of a 16-week dance intervention on loneliness and self-esteem in left behind children: a randomised controlled trial |
| title_fullStr | Effects of a 16-week dance intervention on loneliness and self-esteem in left behind children: a randomised controlled trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of a 16-week dance intervention on loneliness and self-esteem in left behind children: a randomised controlled trial |
| title_short | Effects of a 16-week dance intervention on loneliness and self-esteem in left behind children: a randomised controlled trial |
| title_sort | effects of a 16 week dance intervention on loneliness and self esteem in left behind children a randomised controlled trial |
| topic | Dance interventional Left-behind children Loneliness Self-esteem |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87954-0 |
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