Latin Dance and Psychological Health in Primary School Children

This study aims to examine the effects of a 12-week Latin dance intervention on loneliness, anxiety, depression, perceived stress, physical activity enjoyment, and well-being among primary school children in Gansu, China. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either a Latin dance intervention group or a control group. The intervention group will participate in two supervised Latin dance sessions per week, including Rumba, Cha-cha, and Jive, while the control group will participate in regular physical education activities. The outcomes will be assessed before and after the 12-week intervention using validated questionnaires. The findings may provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of school-based Latin dance as a strategy for promoting children's psychological health and well-being.

Inclusion Criteria: * Primary school children aged 6-12 years. * Currently enrolled in a participating primary school in Gansu, China. * Able to participate safely in school-based physical activities and Latin dance sessions. * Able to understand and complete the study questionnaires. * Willing to participate in the 12-week intervention and study assessments. * Written informed consent provided by a parent or legal guardian. * Assent provided by the child. Exclusion Criteria： * A medical condition, physical disability, or musculoskeletal injury that would make participation in physical activity or Latin dance unsafe. * A health condition for which a physician or school health professional advises against participation in moderate-intensity physical activity. * Current participation in regular Latin dance training or another structured dance intervention. * Participation in another psychological or physical activity intervention that may affect the study outcomes. * Inability to participate regularly in the intervention sessions or complete the study assessments.