10-Week Ballroom Dance Program Improves Mood and Influences Health-Related Elements in Healthy Middle-Aged Adults.

This study investigated the effects of a 10-week recreational ballroom dance program on the physical and psychological health of inactive middle-aged Japanese adults compared to a control group. Results showed that participants in the dance group experienced a significant improvement in psychological mood, measured by a reduction in Total Mood Disturbance (TMD) scores on the Profile of Mood States 2 (POMS®2) survey, while no significant changes were observed in physical fitness, oxidative stress, or autonomic nervous system indices. Additionally, reductions in TMD correlated with increased autonomic nervous system activity (ccvTP) and a higher number of days engaging in high-intensity physical activity, suggesting ballroom dancing may promote better mood and encourage more vigorous exercise habits. The study concludes that ballroom dancing could be an effective intervention to improve mental well-being and support the development of exercise routines among sedentary middle-aged adults, though longer or more frequent interventions may be needed to observe physiological benefits.