Effect of aerobic dance movement therapy on anxiety among first year B. SC. (N) students

Anxiety disorders are becoming one of the most common mental health problems on college campuses worldwide. It is estimated that 1 in 13 people suffer from anxiety. Newly admitted college students are more anxious due to their transition to a new environment and a probable lack of proficiency in technology. Researchers reported that the anxiety levels among nursing students are high with a poor impact on their health and academic status. This study evaluated the effectiveness of aerobic dance movement therapy (ADMT) on anxiety level and to associate post-test level of anxiety with selected demographic variables among B.Sc. (N) first-year students. A Quasi-experimental non-randomised control group design was used. 60 students were selected by purposive sampling technique with 30 students in each group. Zung Self Rating Anxiety Scale was used. After pre-test, intervention was given to students in the study group for 45 min on alternate days for 4 weeks followed by post-test in both groups. In pre-test, the mean anxiety score in the study group and control group were 55.93 and 55.27. After administration of ADMT, the post-test mean anxiety score was 42.17 and 54.43 in the study and control group, respectively. The mean difference in the study group is 13.77 and found to be statistically significant (t = 13.63, P = 0.001). Variables such as age, type of family, area of residence and type of attending college were significantly associated with post-test anxiety level (P ≤ 0.05). ADMT was found to be cost-effective, appropriate and feasible to implement in all settings that would help the students to manage anxiety and improve their academic performance effectively.