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Combining strength, flexibility and sensual movements, pole dancing is a very complete sport. According to a study published in BMC Psychology, this type of dancing could also improve your mental well-being. Doctissimo explains the reasons to you.
A true means of expression, dance is seen by some as a form of therapy. Very popular in recent years, pole dancing is of particular interest to researchers. This is the case of Jalda Lena Pfeiffer, researcher at MSB Medical School Berlin, who carried out, with the help of other scientists, a study aimed at studying the psychological effects of pole dancing, focusing on well-being mentality of practitioners.
Pole dancing increases mental well-being, study finds
The study in question involved 50 German women, all aged over 18. The latter were recruited through social networks or directly in fitness studios. Before the experiment, they had limited pole dancing experience.
For this study, two groups were formed: a pole dancing group and a waiting list group, therefore not practicing pole dancing, for eight weeks. During this duration, the pole dancing group participated in dance sessions specially designed so that everyone could participate effectively regardless of their level. Each session lasted 60 minutes and included both fitness exercises and others more specific to pole dancing.
As this experiment took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, the sessions were adjusted and weekly exercise videos were provided in addition for practice at home. Before and after the experiment, mental well-being among the participants was measured using the Warwick Edinburgh scale.
According to the results and in comparison with the group on the waiting list, the group who practiced pole dancing for eight weeks benefited from an increase in mental well-being. On the other hand, these same participants showed improvements in their sexual behavior and knowledge. Indeed, women who completed pole dancing classes were more likely to agree with statements like “I thought clearly” and “I was optimistic about the future.”
Greater self-esteem
Additional results from this study also revealed that participants who took eight weeks of pole dancing classes appreciated their bodies more and had higher overall self-esteem. They also feel more capable and confident in sexual contexts. The researchers also noted a reduction in sexual anxiety among the participants.
Further studies are needed to establish a reliable link
Although this study provides interesting results, it has some limitations. Having been conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic, the structure of the experiment was significantly influenced. Indeed, the potential benefits of socialization of the participants within the group were limited. The researchers were unable to monitor how consistently the participants completed the home workouts.
The study was carried out over a period of eight weeks. There have therefore been no long-term evaluations and the lasting impacts of pole dancing remain difficult to identify.
Thus, future studies in this area could take these limits into account in order to clarify certain points. For more robust and interpretable results, the study could also be carried out on a larger number of participants.