Researchers have found that a dance intervention program significantly improved the self-rated health (SRH) of Swedish girls with internalising problems, such as stress and psychosomatic symptoms.

The study assigned 59 girls to the intervention group with dance classes twice weekly for eight months and 53 girls to a control group.

Girls participating in the dance intervention improved their SRH more than those in the control group. This effect remained four to eight months after the intervention had ended.