Girls Need to Jam: A Somatics-Based Hip-Hop Dance Intervention and Its Impact on Adolescent Females

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine changes and relationships of cognitive and psychological measures in adolescent females through engagement in a somatics-based dance intervention supported by self-determination theory. This quasi-experimental dissertation used a quantitative research design focused on gathering pre- and post-test data to determine changes in variables after an intervention period. Participants (n = 23) were recruited from within a single school district in the southeastern United States and measures of study included self-esteem, mindfulness, social physique anxiety, and psychological needs thwarting in the sports context. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to examine any significant changes including dependent t-tests; one-, two-, and three-way ANOVA; Bonferroni post-hoc comparisons; correlations; and simple linear as well as multiple regression analysis. Findings found no significant difference in pre- and post-test scores on the four instrument scales. However, there were significant differences on the scores of the scales when examined by grade level, race, and body mass index (BMI) classification. Additionally, results found statistical significance for the connection of psychological need thwarting to the measures of self-esteem, social physique anxiety, and mindfulness, with those participants experiencing more need thwarting to have lower levels of self-esteem and mindfulness and higher levels of social physique anxiety. Findings suggest an important connection among psychological needs, self-esteem, social physique anxiety, and mindfulness for adolescent females engaged in dance classes.