Abstract
Although recreational dancing is associated with increased physical and psychological well-being, little is known about the harmful effects of excessive dancing. The aim of the present study was to explore the psychopathological factors associated with dance addiction. The sample comprised 447 salsa and ballroom dancers (68% female, mean age: 32.8 years) who danced recreationally at least once a week. The Exercise Addiction Inventory (Terry, Szabo, & Griffiths, 2004) was adapted for dance (Dance Addiction Inventory, DAI). Motivation, general mental health (BSI-GSI, and Mental Health Continuum), borderline personality disorder, eating disorder symptoms, and dance motives were also assessed. Five latent classes were explored based on addiction symptoms with 11% of participants belonging to the most problematic class. DAI was positively associated with psychiatric distress, borderline personality and eating disorder symptoms. Hierarchical linear regression model indicated that Intensity (ß=0.22), borderline (ß=0.08), eating disorder (ß=0.11) symptoms, as well as Escapism (ß=0.47) and Mood Enhancement (ß=0.15) (as motivational factors) together explained 42% of DAI scores. Dance addiction as assessed with the Dance Addiction Inventory is associated with indicators of mild psychopathology and therefore warrants further research.
Highlights
Dancing has substantial benefits for physical and mental health such as decreased depression, anxiety and increased physical and psychological wellbeing [1,2,3,4]
There are theoretical reasons to assume that excessive dancing may have harmful effects for the individual, there have been very few studies that have studied the effects of excessive dance activity, and none that have described the psychological factors and consequences associated with dance addiction
The present study proposes that excessive social dancing is associated with detriments to mental health
Summary
Dancing has substantial benefits for physical and mental health such as decreased depression, anxiety and increased physical and psychological wellbeing [1,2,3,4]. Little is known about the psychological underpinnings of excessive dancing. There are theoretical reasons to assume that excessive dancing may have harmful effects for the individual, there have been very few studies that have studied the effects of excessive dance activity, and none that have described the psychological factors and consequences associated with dance addiction. Given the lack of empirical research in dance addiction, exercise addiction is arguably similar and could be considered as conceptually resembling dance addiction for several reasons. Pierce et al [5] found that dancers score higher on the Exercise Addiction Scale.
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