Dancing Queen… Only seventy! the short- and long-term effects of older-women group dancing on self-esteem, depression, and self-judgment

Abstract

This research examined the short-term and long-term effects of group dancing on self-esteem, depression, and self-judgment in older women participating in the GILA Methodology, a movement and performance art initiative specifically designed for mature women, developed by Galit Liss. The study, conducted from 2019 to 2023, involved 152 participants (mean age 69.98 ± 5.68) who participated in one to five measurements and were categorized as either Experienced (having participated for more than ten months and performed a solo dance) or Beginner dancers. Self-reported measures of depressive symptoms, self-judgment, and self-esteem were collected. This study found that Experienced dancers showed higher self-esteem and lower self-judgment than Beginners, with no difference in depression levels (n = 152). Over two years, depression levels decreased significantly overall (n = 23). This decrease in depression was primarily observed in Experienced dancers. The depression levels of beginner dancers did not change. Over two years, they experienced a notable reduction in self-judgment, eventually reaching the same levels as experienced dancers. Initial self-judgment predicted changes in depression levels after two years, an association that was moderated by self-esteem; specifically, higher self-esteem mitigated the effect of self-judgment on changes in depression. We highlight the program's emphasis on utilizing the body's abilities, promoting acceptance, and building resilience through performance experiences. Given its limitation as an uncontrolled ecological longitudinal study, potentially affected by historical events and dependent on self-reported data, we suggest further replicating the current study.