Who am I? The effects of street dance teacher training program on young people.

Abstract

Introduction: In recent years, mental health issues of youth have become one of the main concerns in Hong Kong. Dance as an art form that combines both physical activity and aesthetics has been reported beneficial effects on improving the mental well-being of young people through facilitating the development of self-concept and self-esteem. However, as one of the most favorable types of dance among young people worldwide, street dance has limited valid and evidence-supported studies. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of the 2-year street dance teacher training program on improving the following aspects among youth: 1) anxiety and depression, 2) personal well-being, 3) physical self-concept, and 4) self-concept clarity. Research Design: A mixed-methods, single-group, repeated measure, and quasi-experimental design was adopted. A total of 25 young dancers, who were recruited from the community, have enrolled in the 2-year program. Twenty of them completed a questionnaire on a yearly basis: at baseline (T0), 1-year follow-up (T1), and 2-year follow-up (T2). Seven of them were also invited to attend a focus group interview, which was approximately 1 hour, upon program completion (T2) to share about their experiences of participating in this program and their changes from a multi-faceted perspective. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to analyze the questionnaire data, while thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview data. Results: After joining the program, improvements were shown in participants’ physical self-concept (F2,38 = 5.22, p < .01) and esteem (F2,38 = 4.07, p < 0.05), anxious (F2,38 = 5.26, p < .01) and depressed moods (F2,38 = 4.23, p < .05), as well as their sense of wellness in achievement in life (F2,38 = 5.68, p < .01) and future security (F2,38 = 4.90, p < .05). It was found in the focus group interview that the program also provided valuable inspirations to the participants so as to facilitate the development of a stable identity of a dance teacher and self-identity among them. Conclusion: The findings of the 2-year project indicate that street dance teacher training may facilitate the development of a stable identity of a dance teacher and self-identity in the participants. It may also enhance their mental well-being and the sense of wellness in achievement in life and future security.