A dança urbana na autoestima de estudantes da área da saúde: uma proposta de intervenção para prevenção da depressão

Abstract

Undergraduate courses are stress agents predisposing depression risk. Over the past 25 years, rates of depression have increased by 13 to 20%, with a higher incidence among women and young adults. It becomes necessary to make interventions that minimize these problems, such as dance, which fostering wellbeing and quality of life. This study investigated the effects of urban dance on self-esteem, body satisfaction and anxiety, stress and depression indices in health students. Urban dance was applied as an intervention, once a week, 60 minutes, for six months. The following assessment instruments were used (at baseline and endpoint): Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - Short Form (DASS-21) and a semistructured interview. Twentyone students attended this study. After six months of urban dance classes, values referring to self-esteem changed from 12.5 to 14.5 points (p = 0.05). Body satisfaction, values ranged from 81.8 to 65.5 (p = 0.02). Depression index was from 11 to 7.7 points (p = 0.03). The practice of urban dance influenced selfesteem, body satisfaction, and symptoms of depression, stress and anxiety in health students.