Salsa dancing can ease depressive symptoms in young adults, randomized trial finds

An eight-week salsa dance program has been found to reduce depressive symptoms and social anxiety in young adults, according to a randomized trial published in Psychological Medicine. Led by Brennan Delattre, a doctoral researcher at the University of Oxford, the study aimed to determine if social dance could help young adults with depression, who are often under-represented in treatment research and more likely to drop out of therapy compared to older adults.

Participants, aged 18 to 24, with mild to moderately severe depression symptoms, were randomly assigned to either an experimental salsa dance group or a waitlist control group. The salsa group attended weekly classes taught by experienced instructors, while the waitlist group completed assessments 12 weeks after the intervention began.

Delattre explained that salsa dance combines physical exertion with continuous social interaction, offering unique benefits for mental well-being. Participants in the salsa group reported lower levels of depressive symptoms, as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), compared to the waitlist group. The difference in depression scores was larger than what patients typically notice as meaningful, suggesting that the salsa program had a significant impact on their mental health.

Additionally, the salsa group showed a decline in social anxiety, while the waitlist group showed little to no change. The researchers noted that enjoyment of salsa in class was associated with lower depressive symptoms, emphasizing that active, social, and enjoyable activities can make a real difference in mood, alongside professional care.