‘Bigger than hip-hop?’ Impact of a community-based physical activity program on youth living in a disadvantaged neighborhood in Canada

Abstract

This study explored whether a hip-hop dance program was associated with improved well-being for adolescents living in a multicultural, socio-economically disadvantaged urban community in Ottawa. Sixty-seven youths between 11 and 16 years of age participated in a 13-week program. A primarily qualitative approach was used to assess perceived impact of this pilot program from the perspective of youth participants, parents, and program personnel. Two independent reviewers analyzed the data using a content and theme analysis. The findings suggested that the community-based intervention was a promising program for the promotion of youth psychological, social, and physical well-being. The adolescents, parents, and/or personnel described benefits across seven main areas, including dancing and related skills, behaviors (e.g., reduced television viewing), physical well-being, psychological well-being, relationships, respect for others and for diversity, and school performance. Implications of this study are discussed in relation to future research and to other programs targeting adolescent health promotion in urban disadvantaged communities.