Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of dance therapy course practice (DTCP) on academic motivation, anxiety, body language, and dance-related self-efficacy, perceived stress level, and autonomous learning in physiotherapy students.
Material and Methods: One hundred and two participants were included in the study. The students’ level of academic motivation with the Academic Motivation Scale (AMS), anxiety with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), body language and dance-related self-efficacy with the Body Language and Dance Self-Efficacy Assessment Form (BLDSEAF), stress level with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and autonomous learning skills with the Autonomous Learning Scale (ALS) were evaluated before and after the 8-week DTCP.
Results: The average age of the students was 21.33±2.92 years, mean body mass index was 22.07±2.80 kg/m2. Fifty nine of them were women (57.8%) and 43 were men (42.2%). After the DTCP, a statistically significant increase was found in the AMS, BLDSEAF, and ALS scores and a significant decrease in the STAI and PSS scores of the students (P < .001).
Conclusion: According to the results of our study, it was observed that academic motivation level, body language, dance-related self-efficacy, and autonomous learning skills increased, and anxiety and stress levels decreased in the students of physiotherapy after the DTCP. We believe that DTCP significantly contributed to the students’ ability to express themselves non-verbally and socialize, to get away from the anxiety and stress of academic and daily life when dancing, to be better motivated, and to know and use their bodies better.
Cite this article as: Arman N, Türkmen E. Effect of Dance Therapy Course Practice on Academic Motivation, Anxiety, Dance-Related Self-Efficiency, Stress, and Autonomous Learning in Physiotherapy Students. Arch Health Sci Res. 2021;8(2):124-130.